Can I become a foster carer for a family member?

Kinship fostering is an arrangement in which a child is placed with someone they already know, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sibling or another connected person. If the child is looked after by the local authority, a relative may be assessed and approved as a connected person foster carer. Being related to the child does not automatically create foster carer status, so the correct legal route must be established first.

The child’s legal situation matters

There are several types of kinship care, and they have different rules:

• Kinship fostering: the local authority remains responsible for a looked-after child, who is placed with an approved family member or another person connected to them.
• Temporary or emergency arrangements: a local authority may need to place a child with a connected person quickly while a fuller assessment takes place. The social worker will explain the conditions and next steps.
• Informal family care: relatives may care for a child by agreement with the parents where the child is not looked after. This is not the same as being an approved foster carer.
• Other legal orders: depending on the circumstances, a child arrangements order or special guardianship order may be considered instead of fostering.

The child’s social worker or local authority children’s services should confirm which arrangement applies. This is particularly important if the child is already living with you, or if there are concerns about their safety or care.

What will be considered?

A kinship fostering assessment looks at whether the proposed arrangement meets this particular child’s needs. The assessment may consider:

• your relationship with the child and your understanding of their history, routines and needs;
• your ability to provide consistent care, boundaries and emotional support;
• your home, household members, pets and any other children who live with you;
• your physical and emotional capacity to manage the responsibilities of fostering;
• your ability to work constructively with social workers, the child’s parents and other professionals;
• how contact with the child’s parents and wider family could be managed safely; and
• the child’s wishes and feelings, taking their age and understanding into account.

The assessment also considers whether placing the child with you is in their best interests. A close family relationship is important, but it is only one part of the decision.

Checks and approval

You should expect identity and safeguarding checks, references, health information, home safety checks and detailed discussions about your personal circumstances. Other adults in your household may also need to take part in the process. Any criminal record or previous involvement with children’s services will be considered in context; it is not necessarily an automatic bar, but it must be disclosed and assessed openly.

Kinship carers generally complete preparation or training relevant to the child’s needs. This may cover safeguarding, trauma and loss, managing behaviour, supporting identity and family relationships, and working with the child’s birth parents. The responsible local authority or fostering service will explain the required assessment and approval stages.

Financial and practical support

Approved foster carers usually receive a fostering allowance for the child in their care. The amount and payment arrangements depend on the responsible local authority or fostering service, the child’s needs and the type of placement. Additional help may be available for equipment, travel, training or other costs, but this should be confirmed before relying on it. Kinship carers should also ask how benefits, employment and tax may be affected, as these depend on individual circumstances and can change.

Support can include a supervising social worker, guidance with care planning, training, help with contact arrangements and access to other services. The support available depends on whether the arrangement is provided by a local authority, an independent fostering service or under a different legal order.

What to do next

• Tell the child’s social worker or local authority children’s services that you want to be considered as a kinship carer.
• Ask whether the child is looked after and whether fostering, temporary approval, informal care or another legal order is being considered.
• Discuss the child’s immediate needs, contact with parents, practical support and likely financial arrangements.
• Take part fully in the assessment and provide accurate information about your household and circumstances.

If you are considering caring for a family member but have not yet been contacted by social services, a fostering adviser can explain the difference between kinship fostering and other forms of family care. Become A Foster Family can provide information about eligibility, the assessment process, preparation, ongoing support and financial assistance, helping you understand which route may be appropriate for your situation.