What is kinship fostering?

Kinship fostering is the formal fostering route used when a child who is already known to you becomes looked after by the local authority. You may be a grandparent, aunt or uncle, older sibling, other relative, family friend or another adult with an established connection to the child. Unlike an informal family arrangement, you become an approved foster carer and work with social workers and other professionals to meet the child’s needs.

It is sometimes called family and friends fostering or connected person fostering . The child may come to live with you because their parent is temporarily unable to provide care, or because longer-term decisions about their upbringing are still being considered. Kinship fostering can therefore be short term, last for a longer period, or form part of a plan for the child to return to their parents or move to another legal arrangement.

Kinship care does not always mean kinship fostering. Some children live informally with relatives without being looked after by the local authority. Other arrangements use a child arrangements order, special guardianship order or adoption. These routes have different legal effects, responsibilities, assessment processes and financial support. The right option depends on the child’s circumstances, the parents’ position, court decisions and the recommendations of children’s services.

Who can become a kinship foster carer?

You do not usually need to be a close blood relative. The important issue is the existing relationship with the child and whether you can provide suitable care. Each application is considered individually, but the assessment will normally look at:

• your relationship with the child and understanding of their history;
• your ability to meet the child’s day-to-day, emotional, educational and health needs;
• your home, household and available bedroom space;
• your health, lifestyle and capacity to provide consistent care;
• the views and involvement of other adults and children in your household;
• your support network, including who could help during difficult periods;
• your ability to work constructively with parents, social workers, schools and other professionals; and
• any safeguarding, criminal record or previous social care concerns that need to be considered.

Being related to the child does not remove the need for checks or assessment. The purpose is not to question the value of your relationship, but to establish what support the child needs and whether the proposed arrangement is safe and sustainable.

How does the kinship fostering process work?

• Initial discussion: Speak to the child’s social worker or the relevant fostering service as soon as you become aware that the child may need to live with you. You can ask questions about the proposed arrangement, the child’s needs and the different legal options.
• Initial checks and a viability assessment: Children’s services may carry out early checks to decide whether you could be a suitable temporary or longer-term option. This can include checks on your home, household, health, identity, criminal record and relationship with the child.
• Temporary approval where necessary: In urgent situations, a relative or connected adult may be considered for temporary approval while a fuller assessment takes place. This is not automatic, and the service must still consider immediate safeguarding and the child’s welfare.
• Full fostering assessment: If the arrangement is to continue, a more detailed assessment examines your circumstances, parenting capacity, support network, understanding of the child’s experiences and ability to work with the wider family.
• Preparation and training: You will usually be expected to complete preparation training covering fostering responsibilities, safeguarding, safer caring, trauma, attachment, behaviour, contact and working with professionals.
• Approval and placement planning: If approved, the fostering service agrees what type of care you can provide and records the child’s needs, routines, contact arrangements, delegated responsibilities and support plan.
• Ongoing review: The placement is monitored through visits, meetings and formal reviews. Plans may change as the child’s circumstances develop or as the court and local authority make decisions about their future.

The process can feel different from an ordinary fostering application because the child may already be living with you or may need a placement quickly. Even so, the same principles apply: the child’s welfare comes first, information must be shared appropriately, and decisions should be based on the child’s needs rather than family pressure alone.

What responsibilities does a kinship foster carer have?

A kinship foster carer provides ordinary day-to-day care while also working within the looked-after child system. This can include taking the child to appointments, supporting education, keeping records, attending meetings, following safer-care arrangements and helping the child maintain appropriate relationships with parents and other relatives.

Contact with the child’s parents can be one of the more complex parts of kinship fostering. You may have your own relationship, history or disagreement with members of the family, but contact arrangements must be based on the child’s welfare and agreed with children’s services. It is important not to make promises about contact, discuss adult disputes with the child or place the child in the role of messenger between adults.

You may also need to support a child who is confused about why they are living with you, worried about their parents or affected by neglect, abuse, separation or instability. Training and professional advice can help you respond to behaviour as a form of communication, maintain boundaries and seek specialist help when needed.

What support and allowances are available?

Approved kinship foster carers should receive support from the fostering service responsible for the placement. Depending on the arrangement, this may include a supervising social worker, regular supervision, training, placement reviews, advice about contact and practical guidance when the child’s needs change. You should ask what support is available before accepting a placement and who to contact if a difficulty arises.

Fostering allowances are intended to contribute towards the costs of caring for a child. The amount can depend on the responsible fostering service, the child’s age and needs, and the terms of the placement. Allowances, benefits and tax treatment can change, so request up-to-date information and take independent financial advice where appropriate. A payment connected with a special guardianship order or another legal arrangement is not necessarily the same as a fostering allowance.

What are the benefits and challenges of kinship fostering?

Living with someone familiar can help a child retain important relationships, routines, cultural connections and knowledge of their family history. It can also reduce the number of unfamiliar changes at a difficult time. However, the arrangement may bring challenges: you may be balancing care with work or existing family responsibilities, managing contact with parents, responding to difficult behaviour and adapting to professional involvement in your home.

It is sensible to consider practical questions before proceeding. Can the child have suitable space and privacy? Who can help with school runs, appointments and emergencies? How will contact with parents be managed? What will you tell other family members and the child’s school? What support would you need if the placement continues for several years? Discussing these issues early can prevent misunderstandings later.

If you are considering caring for a child you know, start by speaking with the child’s social worker or local children’s services. You can also seek guidance from a fostering organisation about eligibility, assessment, preparation, support and the differences between fostering and other kinship care routes. Become A Foster Family supports people across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire, with offices in Droitwich and Stoke and staff located across the region.