Definition and types of kinship care
Children may be brought up by members of their extended family, friends or other people who are connected with them, for a variety of reasons and in a range of different arrangements. Kinship care (sometimes called family and friends care) is the term used when this is the case.
The Westmorland and Furness Council Kinship Offer has been developed in accordance with the relevant statutory guidance, policy documents, and best practice frameworks.
Kinship care can take many different forms, and many people do not always realise that they are kinship carers. The definition of kinship care is any situation in which a child is being raised in the care of a friend or family member who is not their parent. The arrangement may be temporary or longer term.
Types of kinship care arrangements
The following are types of kinship care arrangements:
- Informal kinship care: Private family arrangements where the child lives with a close relative without local authority involvement or a court order
- Short-term private arrangements: Where a child under 16 stays for fewer than 28 days with someone who is not a close relative
- Private fostering: Where someone who is not a close relative for a child aged under 16 looks after the child for 28 days or more, as defined under Section 66 of the Children Act 1989
- Child Arrangements Orders: Orders placing a child with a friend or family member who is not a parent. This can be a full (long term) or interim (temporary) order.
- Special Guardianship Orders: Where a court order has appointed a friend or family member as the child’s special guardian
- Kinship foster care: Where a child is looked after by the local authority and placed with a friend or family member who is an approved foster carer (just for that child or children)
- Adoption by relatives or friends: Where the adopter was a friend or family member prior to the adoption order
Understanding who can be a kinship carer
The following list shows who can be a kinship carer:
- a close relative of the child (this includes anyone who is defined as a relative under the Children Act 1989 such as ‘a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, stepparent)
- a close relative of the child’s half-siblings
- former stepparents or partners of the child’s parent (they may or may not have parental responsibility for the child)
- a close friend of the child, or of the child’s parent(s)
- a close friend of the child's close relative
- a person with a prior connection to the child who does not otherwise fall within one of the other categories above (for example, a teacher, youth worker, childminder or former foster carer)
To hear more about what life is like as a kinship carer, listen to Paul's story on the BBC website.