Kinship Carers

 Kinship care is when a child lives with a relative or friend who isn't their parent, usually because their parents are unable to care for them. The person who cares for the child is called a kinship carer. 

Kinship care can be: 

• Private: An informal arrangement between the child's parents and a close relative, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling 
• Local authority involvement: The local authority places the child with a kinship carer 
• Temporary or permanent: The arrangement can be temporary or informal, or it can be permanent and sometimes formalised through a legal order 

Depending on the specific circumstances, kinship carers will have different rights, responsibilities and support available to them. 

What are the benefits of kinship care?

Kinship care gives children:

• some stability without legally separating them from their birth parents
• the chance to build a firm foundation for a lifelong permanent relationship
• the opportunity to remain within their extended family network

Some organisations that provide support for kinship carers include: 

• Kinship Carers Liverpool: Offers activities for the whole family to get involved with, such as fun activities in the evenings and in school holidays 
• The Kinship care charity: Provides free training, an advice line, workshops, and roadshows.

For more information on kinship care, see the Kinship website  Kinship

To find online and in person training and events for kinship carers see this section of the Kinship Website

The Kinship organisation support family or friends who step up to raise a child.

Kinship video - Davina McCall meets kinship carer campaigners to discuss their shared expereinces of kinship care.