Kinship Care is not a life choice, it is a reaction to circumstances. Although, it is a life changing decision as a Kinship Carer fights to provide a child with a loving and stable home for as long as is needed. The Kinship Care Charity has recently conducted a report to bring Kinship Care “out of the shadows” in an attempt to fight for more legal recognition and support for Kinship Carers. Their full report can be found here.
Who are Kinship Carers?
There are lots of types of Kinship Carers, you could be an aunt or uncle, a grandparent, sibling or even a family friend of the child.
A Kinship Carer is someone who has a child placed in their care full-time, usually because the parents of the child aren’t able to care for them. This could be for reasons which include parental abuse or neglect, drugs or alcohol misuse, imprisonment, domestic violence or ill-health.
One of the main benefits of Kinship Care is that the child remains within the family network and avoids the child being placed within the Local Authorities foster care system. Kinship Care provides a long-term stable placement for the child in a much more comfortable, loving environment.
So what is the issue?
Kinship Carers unfortunately do not receive direct access to legal advice and representation that they need. They often end up having to spend hundreds and thousands of pounds of their own money, leaving them in significant financial debt. They often sacrifice their careers and are left facing the challenges of raising a vulnerable child with little or no support.
Changes needed
The Kinship Care Charity suggest that the main changes for Kinship Carers need to include:
- Information and advice – from the point that the carer is being considered as a Kinship Carer, they should be given access to free legal advice. This should be for as long as the family needs.
- Financial support – Kinship carers should receive all financial support that they may need to support the child, this should include a non-means tested financial allowance which matches the current minimum fostering allowance. They should also be entitled to a form of Kinship care leave, for when the child first moves into their care.
- Practical and emotional support – this should include health, educational and therapeutic support for the children. This also should include for the carers, any training and preparation, emotional and practical support, therapeutic support and any support with contact arrangements.
- Legal rights for all Kinship Carers – they should have the legal right to receive legal aid, have a role in the legal proceedings and any support they need.
- Awareness – awareness should be raised within society and among professionals who work with them.
Our specialist friendly care team here at Taylor&Emmet are listed on the approved Kinship Care Charity list of solicitors and are here to support you if you need any further information or advice on Kinship Care.
