Toggle mobile menu visibility

Norfolk Children's Services kinship offer

The definition of kinship care

Kinship care is any situation in which a child is being raised by a friend or family member who is not their parent. The arrangement may be temporary or longer term.  

There are different types of kinship care. Types of kinship care on the Kinship website.

Further details of the types of kinship care (this may not cover all possible kinship care options):

Informal kinship care

Informal kinship care arrangements (not approved foster care) include:  

Private family arrangement

A private family arrangement is when a family member or friend is caring for a child for whom they do not have parental responsibility and where:  

  • The local authority has had no major role in making the arrangement for the child. (For example, a parent decides they cannot look after their child for whatever reason so they agree with an aunt that the child lives with her for a certain period of time.) And; 
  • Where a family court has not made an order in respect of the care of the child

Parental responsibility remains with the parents, who continue to be responsible for all major decisions for that child including about health and education.  

A parent can inform agencies that they are delegating or giving permission for you to make decisions on their behalf, but this is not a legal arrangement. This also means that the kinship carer will not immediately be entitled to benefits relating to the care of that child.

There must be a clear agreement with the child's parents regarding who is financially responsible and what that arrangement looks like practically. (For example will Mum or Dad give the child benefit to you each month?)

For children below 16 years old

Where a child under the age of 16 is being accommodated for less than 28 days by an individual who is not a close relative in their own home.  

For 16-17 year olds

Where a 16 or 17-year-old is being provided with accommodation by an individual who is not a close relative in their own home.  

Private fostering arrangement

A private fostering arrangement in which someone who is not a close relative of the child (under the age of 16) looks after the child for 28 days or more (as per section 66(1)(a) and (b) of the Children Act 1989).  

'Lives with' child arrangement order

Where a 'lives with' child arrangement order has been granted in respect of the child, in favour of someone who is a friend or family member but is not the child's parent.  

Special guardianship order

Where a special guardianship order has been granted appointing a friend or family member as the child's special guardian until the child is 18 years old.

Special guardians share parental responsibility for the child with the parent, and can claim child benefit.

Looked after children

Where a child is a 'looked after child' by virtue of either an interim or final care order or being accommodated by the local authority (usually under section 20 of the Children Act 1989) and each of the following apply (this may be described as 'kinship foster care' or 'family and friends foster care'). 

  • The child is being cared for by a friend or family member who is not their parent, and; 
  • The friend or family member is approved as a local authority foster carer either on a temporary basis or following full assessment

Further information

More information on the different orders available to you as a kinship carer and what this means regarding your responsibilities and the parent's responsibilities is available via the Kinship and CoramBAAF websites. 

Share this page

Facebook icon Twitter icon Email icon

Print

Print icon