Overview
What is a kinship carer?
When a birth parent is unable to care for their child, the child may live full-time or most of the time with a relative or friend. That relative or friend is known as a ‘kinship carer’ or ‘connected person’.
Becoming a kinship carer (non-foster carers)
An informal arrangement is when the birth parent(s) agree that a child can live with a family member or friend without local authority involvement.
When a child becomes known to children’s social care due to safeguarding concerns, a kinship placement may be the best option for the child. Your social worker will discuss options with both the birth family and support the family to identify potential carers within the family network.
If a potential kinship carer is identified, the child’s social worker will support the family through the assessment and court application, which may result in a family and friends fostering placement, a special guardianship order, or child arrangement order.
Our offer to Nottinghamshire’s kinship families
Recognising the benefit that kinship care offers to children and families, the Nottinghamshire Plan commits us to "providing the right support for families to reduce the need for vulnerable children to go into foster or residential care".
Our offer extends to families with special guardianship orders, child arrangement orders and private/informal arrangements.
Starting in Autumn 2022, we:
- have invested in a Kinship Support Service to empower our kinship families through dedicated social worker, welfare rights and family support
- offer annual kinship review plans to better identify support and opportunities for our kinship families
- offer all new kinship carers access to family and friends pre-order training
- work directly with kinship families to offer enhanced training and support, including life story work and access to the Adoption Support Fund (now known as the adoption and special guardianship) which is also available for children previously considered 'looked after'.
- commission independent support for kinship families through Kinship Reach.
Kinship Support Service
Once you become a kinship carer in a permanent arrangement (typically a special guardianship order or child arrangement order), you are entitled to access support from your kinship support service.
Our team of dedicated social workers, family workers and welfare rights officers can offer targeted support, general advice, and signposting to local or national support groups and advice.
Some of the support we offer includes:
- Reviewing special guardianship order support plans, or plans for families on other legal orders
- Information and guidance to prepare you for being a kinship carer and to support you once the child is in your care
- Advice regarding kinship allowances, benefits entitlements and education entitlements
- Life Story Work to children growing up in a kinship arrangement
- Assessment for the Adoption Support Fund on behalf of eligible kinship families who would benefit from therapeutic input
- A phoneline and email address during office hours and a dedicated kinship website, alongside out of hours support
- Membership or signposting to kinship support groups through our partners in the voluntary sector.
To find out more please contact our Kinship Support Service on either 01158 041407 or kinshipsupport@nottscc.gov.uk.
If you are interested in hearing about future events and support with the Kinship Service, Nottinghamshire County Council, please click this link to share your email address with us: Kinship mailing list
Peer networks and helpful support
Independent virtual support for kinship families
It is important that kinship families have access to independent support, advice, and guidance. We have recently commissioned Kinship Reach provided by Kinship (opens in new tab) – for independent one-to-one remote support around issues such as emotional distress, children’s behaviour, housing or family relationships. Please contact the Kinship Support Service to discuss a referral.
External support for kinship families
Please note that Nottinghamshire County Council does not necessarily endorse the organisations listed and are not responsible for the content of any external websites.
- Kinship (opens in new tab) - A leading national kinship charity providing information, support, and guidance on kinship arrangements
- Family Rights Group (opens in new tab) - A national charity that advises parents, grandparents, relatives and friends about their rights and options
- Hetty’s Charity (opens in new tab) - Specialist kinship support packages and peer groups for Nottinghamshire families with experience of addiction
- Peer-to-Peer Support Service (opens in new tab) - A new peer-to-peer support service for all kinship carers in England, funded by the Department for Education and led by Kinship charity.
- Someone Like Me (opens in new tab) - A volunteer delivered telephone peer support service offered by Kinship charity.
- Adoption East Midlands (opens in new tab) - Derby, Nottingham, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire local authority partnership to ensure better outcomes for children waiting for adoption
- Foster for Nottinghamshire (opens in new tab) - Nottinghamshire County Councils fostering service, including services for family and friends foster carers.
Useful links:
- Preparing to be a special guardian - Kinship - The kinship care charity (opens in new tab)
- Lawyers List - Kinship - The kinship care charity (opens in new tab)
- Advice and Information - Kinship - The kinship care charity (opens in new tab)
For a comprehensive list of organisations that support fostering, adoption, and kinship, please explore Family Rights Group – Useful Links (opens in new tab) .