How long does it take to become a kinship carer?
There is no fixed timescale for becoming a kinship carer: it depends on the child’s circumstances, legal arrangements and the assessment process required by the local authority. Your assessing social worker will explain each stage and provide a clearer timeframe once your situation has been reviewed.
Partnering with an
Ofsted Outstanding Provider
Becoming a kinship carer can take anything from a short period for an urgent temporary arrangement to considerably longer where full fostering approval or a court order is needed. The route being considered, the child’s immediate needs and the checks required will determine the practical timescale.
Kinship care is not a single legal status. You may care for a child as an approved kinship foster carer, under a Special Guardianship Order, through a Child Arrangements Order or through another arrangement agreed with the local authority. Each route has a different process.
- Kinship fostering: the local authority assesses you against fostering requirements. This normally includes an initial discussion, an application, background checks, references, health information, a home assessment, preparation training and a recommendation about approval. The assessment may also consider other members of your household and how you will work with the child’s parents and professionals.
- Special Guardianship: you usually need an assessment report before the court can make an order. The report considers your relationship with the child, your ability to meet their needs, your home circumstances and the likely effect of the order on family relationships. The timing is linked to the court proceedings and any directions made by the judge.
- Child Arrangements Order: the process is also connected to a court application. The court may request reports or information before deciding whether the arrangement is in the child’s best interests.
- Informal family arrangements: a child may come to live with a relative or close family friend without an immediate court order. This can happen quickly, but it does not necessarily give you the same legal authority, financial support or access to services as formal kinship care.
Where a child needs somewhere to live urgently, the local authority may consider a temporary arrangement while further checks and assessments take place. This does not remove the need for a full assessment. You may still need to provide documents, complete training, attend meetings and help professionals understand the child’s needs and family circumstances.
Several parts of the process can affect how long it takes:
- obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service checks and other safeguarding information;
- receiving medical advice and personal references;
- assessing the suitability and space available in your home;
- understanding the child’s health, education, emotional and care needs;
- considering the views and circumstances of the child’s parents;
- arranging preparation training and assessment visits;
- waiting for a fostering panel or decision-maker, where fostering approval is required; and
- co-ordinating court hearings, reports and legal advice where an order is being considered.
Some checks can take longer if information is missing, if you have lived in different areas or countries, or if professionals need to clarify previous household or safeguarding circumstances. Delays do not automatically mean that you cannot become a kinship carer; they may simply indicate that further information is needed before a safe decision can be made.
Your assessing social worker should explain which route applies to your circumstances, what evidence is needed and what stage has been reached. Ask for a written list of outstanding checks and planned meetings so you can identify anything that may be holding up the assessment. Tell the social worker promptly about changes to your address, household, employment, health or the child’s circumstances.
While the assessment is taking place, ask how the child’s immediate care, contact with family members, education, transport and expenses will be managed. Financial support and practical assistance can differ according to whether you are an approved foster carer or hold a court order, so confirm what applies before making long-term arrangements. Kinship carers should also be told who to contact for support after the child moves in and how concerns will be reviewed.
The most useful indication of timing will come from the local authority or legal professional managing your case, because they can account for the child’s circumstances and the specific checks required. A kinship care adviser can help you understand the difference between the available routes and prepare for the questions likely to arise during assessment.
The expected timescale can change if the legal or care arrangement develops during the assessment. For example, a child may initially be placed with a relative under a temporary fostering arrangement, while professionals consider whether long-term kinship fostering, a Special Guardianship Order or another legal route is most suitable.
Changing the proposed route can mean that further reports, checks or court steps are needed. This is not necessarily a setback; it allows the local authority and court, where involved, to make a decision based on the child’s longer-term needs rather than treating an urgent temporary arrangement as a permanent solution.
Ask the social worker to explain whether the current timescale relates to an interim arrangement or the final legal outcome. It is also reasonable to ask what decisions still need to be made, who is responsible for them and whether a change in route would affect your assessment or support.
Talk to us about becoming a kinship carer
If you need help understanding the kinship care process or the steps involved in your circumstances, talk to our team for clear, practical guidance.