"Kinship carers" refers to family members or close relatives who have taken on the role of caring for a child when their birth parents are unable to do so. These carers provide a stable and loving home for the child, ensuring their well-being and upbringing.
Full definition
The study reveals, that only 33 %
of kinship carers in the survey are in paid full - time or part - time work.
There is a network of friendly local support groups
for kinship carers across the country.
Our advice service offers independent, confidential advice to
kinship carers in all situations.
This is an informal group of
kinship carers who meet for a coffee and a chat, to offer support to each other and share information and ideas.
Even so, many children who go to live
with kinship carers have had a very difficult start in life, and their behaviour is often greatly affected by past experiences.
As someone who understands the issues and difficulties faced you are in the best position to help
other kinship carers by offering one - off telephone support at a time of need.
Adoption
by kinship carers is rarely considered appropriate because it legally and permanently changes family arrangements.
This would prevent
many kinship carers from losing their jobs and being forced to rely on benefits.
The support available to
kinship carers from local authorities and statutory services varies enormously.
These initiatives are sufficient to
give kinship carers some faith in the government to deliver creative and responsive programs.
This original tool was developed for existing carers, a tool for
new kinship carers and a review tool have been derived from this tool.
80 % of
kinship carers felt that when they took on the child, they did not know enough about the legal options and the consequences for getting support to make an informed decision.
By partnering with local authorities, we can
offer kinship carers support that's proven to help them and start to break down barriers between carers and public services.
Parents remain responsible for maintaining their children unless they have «looked after» status, but very often
kinship carers do not receive any financial support from parents.
With no statutory requirement for local authorities to make provision, few
kinship carers receive formal support.
We aim to
call kinship carers within a week of receiving the request but at busy times, there may be a delay.
The service is run in collaboration with local authorities and aims to inform, support and
empower kinship carers to provide stable homes and achieve positive outcomes for children.
Our national support network is free to join and
keeps kinship carers connected, both with us and each other.
, provides new evidence of high numbers of
kinship carers falling out of the labour market when they take on the care of children.
31 % comprised wider family and friends, these are
primarily kinship carers, including grandparents and older siblings who are raising children unable to live with their parent.
It focuses on
how kinship carers are coping financially and on the impact of welfare reforms and changes in local authority support.
Specialist legal advice for grandparents, including local authority responsibilities and other issues
affecting kinship carers.
The Government should adequately fund free specialist independent legal advice and information services to
kinship carers who are considering, or have taken on a child.
It promotes peer learning and opportunities to share knowledge and experience with other professionals working
with kinship carers.
Do you want to learn what's happening in kinship care, access the latest information, meet
other kinship carers and enjoy relaxing activities?
Whilst some local authorities are providing good support for special guardians,
many kinship carers are struggling to get the financial and practical help they need for the vulnerable children they are bringing up.
For the first time, a comprehensive study of the circumstances, experiences and challenges of children and their
informal kinship carers group by interviewing children and their carers as part of the study.
It also provided information on the needs
of kinship carers and their priorities for support.
This tool has been developed for existing carers, a tool for
new kinship carers is under development.
The resources include plain English questions in a flexible and informal format for conversational interviews with
existing kinship carers.
In addition to this the importance of advice and support
for kinship carers is highlighted as well as calling for greater financial support and increased awareness of these complex situations.
Grandparents Plus offers such valuable support to those who
become kinship carers and through this funding even more help will be provided to those in need.»
If we win we'll receive up to # 25,000 which would help us to support
more kinship carers in Tyne and Wear.
Buttle UK has an ongoing relationship with the STV Children's Appeal, which has provided funding to assist
kinship carers across the country, but specifically in Dundee, Perth and Kinross, Falkirk and Renfrewshire.
Investing in better support for special guardians and other
kinship carers makes sense for children and also for the taxpayer — by enabling children to thrive and achieve better long term outcomes.»
The study is based on information drawn from 6,250 callers to Family Rights Group advice line for the 2014 - 15 financial year, and from the new — and largest ever in the UK —
kinship carer survey.