Kinship local offer

Arrangements and assessments

This section explains the different types of kinship care arrangements, our role, and the assessments that may be needed.

Our Kinship Team will identify a family network for the child as early as possible and stay involved with planning and support. We prioritise placing children with people they know before considering alternative care arrangements.

We’re responsible for assessing family and friends carers when:

  • a child is involved in care proceedings
  • someone plans to apply for a Special Guardianship Order

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Informal kinship care

This is a private family arrangement where the child lives with a close relative. It can be temporary or permanent.

The child’s parents (or those with parental responsibility) and the close relative must agree the arrangement privately.

Parental responsibility remains with the child’s parents.

There is no court order and we are not involved, unless there is a safeguarding concern.

Short-term private arrangements

This is when a child under 16 stays with someone who is not a close relative for less than 28 days.

Private fostering

This is when a child lives with someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. The arrangement must be ongoing. Short breaks do not interrupt this.

This arrangement applies to:

  • children under 16
  • disabled children under 18

An extended family member can be a private foster carer, such as a cousin or great-aunt.

The private foster carer is responsible for the day-to-care care of the child. The child’s parents (or those with parental responsibility) maintain legal responsibility of them.

You must tell us about the arrangement in writing at least six weeks before it begins. Please tell us immediately if the private fostering arrangement is already in place. This is a legal requirement for the private foster carer or anybody who is aware of the arrangement.

Our responsibilities

We are not involved in approving or registering private foster carers. We have a legal duty to prioritise the child’s welfare.

Assessment and monitoring

Once you’ve told us about the arrangement, we’ll carry out a Private Fostering Assessment.

We’ll make regular visits to:

  • monitor the child’s welfare
  • offer support to the child, carer, and parents

These visits will occur:

  • at least every six weeks during the first year of the arrangement
  • at least every twelve weeks in subsequent years

This is in line with Regulation 8 of the Private Fostering Regulations 2005.

Kinship foster care

Kinship foster care is when we place a child in our care with an approved foster carer. This arrangement can be temporary or long term.

The foster carer must have an existing connection to the child. They could be a close relative or family friend. The child’s relationship with the carer is more important than biological ties.

The kinship foster carer is responsible for the day-to-care care of the child. The Council shares responsibility for the child’s care and planning with the child’s parents (or those with parental responsibility).

Our responsibilities

We must assess, approve, and support kinship foster carers in line with Fostering National Minimum Standards (NMS) and Fostering Regulations.

We’ll do this by:

  • creating and regularly reviewing a care plan
  • providing financial allowances, training and support
  • assigning a Kinship Social Worker to advise and support with caring for the child

Assessment and monitoring

Kinship foster carers go through an assessment process which is reviewed by a fostering panel. This may result in temporary or full approval.

The child remains in the care of the Council. A social worker will regularly visit and meet the child and fosterer. This is to monitor the child’s welfare and support the placement.

An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) will carry out an annual review with the fosterer. This review looks at their role, approval status, and any support or training needs.

The first review, and then every third review, is also considered by the fostering panel to confirm ongoing approval.

Kinship adoption

Kinship adoption is when a child is adopted by a friend or family member who they already know. This happens through the family courts as part of care proceedings, to provide the child with a permanent home.

The adoption order grants the adopter with permanent parental responsibility.

This means that the:

  • child is no longer cared for by the Council
  • birth parents lose all their parental responsibilities
  • arrangement is legally permanent

Our responsibilities

We must assess and approve the kinship adopters. We’ll support the child and adopters before and after the adoption order.

We’ll create and regularly review an adoption support plan. This will include:

  • contact with birth parents
  • post-adoption support

Assessment and monitoring

A social worder will complete a full adoption assessment.

We’ll make statutory visits before the adoption order. We may offer post-adoption support, but we’ll stop routine monitoring after the adoption order.

Start your adoption journey at adoptioncumbria.org.uk 

Child Arrangements Order (CAO)

The court makes a CAO usually through private law proceedings.

It decides where a child lives and who they spend time with, without being in our care. This may include living with a relative or someone the child knows.

Parental responsibility may be shared.

The CAO usually lasts until the child is 16 (or 18 in some cases).

Our responsibilities

We might provide information or assessments to help the court decide.

We usually have no ongoing legal role once the CAO is made.

Best Start Family Hubs and other local services may provide support to the carer.

Assessment and monitoring

The court directs any assessment rather than the statutory cared-for processes.

There is no routine monitoring after the order is made. We’ll become involved again if there are concerns about the child’s welfare.

Special Guardianship Orders (SGO)

The court makes a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) to allow a child to live with a family member or someone they know well on a long‑term basis. It aims to give the child a stable home while keeping links with their birth parents.

After an SGO, special guardians have parental responsibility and can make most day‑to‑day decisions. Birth parents still have limited parental responsibility. The child will no longer be in our care.

An SGO usually lasts until the child is 18.

Our responsibilities

We must carry out a full assessment to decide if the applicant can provide stable, long‑term care.

We’ll develop a support plan and share this with the carers. This may include:

  • financial support
  • therapeutic support
  • arrangements for contact with family

We’ll share this information with the court to help it decide what is best for the child.

Ongoing support is offered, based on the agreed support plan.

Assessment and monitoring

We will complete a full assessment (Form K) before the SGO is made. You will receive a copy of this.

There are no routine visits once the order is in place.

We will review financial support each year and check if the support plan still meets your needs.

You can ask for a review at any time if your circumstances change.