Today, Monday, 6th October marks the start of Kinship Care Week which is an opportunity to raise awareness about the amazing role that kinship carers play in children’s lives and society. This year the focus is on helping professionals, families and children understand what kinship care is.
To help colleagues, Named Nurse for Children Looked After and Care Leavers, Racheal Macfarlane, explains more about kinship care, and how CHFT can help support the children, and carers we care for.
What is kinship care?
"Kinship care is when a child or young person is cared for by relatives or close family friends because their parents are unable to do so. This can be formal through legal orders, or informal through family arrangements."
Why might a child live in kinship care?
"Sometimes, families face tough situations. Parents can become seriously ill, struggle with their mental health, or be unable to care for their child due to things like addiction, domestic abuse, or imprisonment. In some cases, a parent may have died, or relationships may have broken down completely.
"In these moments, someone close like a grandparent, aunt, or older sibling, steps in to provide love and stability. Kinship care helps children stay connected to familiar people and places, which can be less disruptive than foster care."
Why is it important for our colleagues to be aware of kinship care?
"Kinship care is common but often goes unrecognised. Carers face similar challenges to foster carers, but usually with less formal support. Awareness helps us offer the right care and avoid missed needs.
"It is important to recognise that kinship carers do not automatically have parental responsibility (PR). They only have PR if they hold a; Child Arrangements Order, Special Guardianship Order (SGO), or Court-granted PR.
"Without this, consent should be gained from someone who does have PR for medical treatment or key decisions."
How can we better support people in Kinship Care and their carers?
"Kinship carers usually step up in moments of crisis. They don’t always see themselves as carers, but they are, and they deserve to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Even a small gesture like saying “You’re doing an amazing job” can make a big difference."
- Ask open questions like “Who’s at home with you?” to gently explore family arrangements.
- Use inclusive, non-judgemental language and avoid assumptions about who has parental responsibility and who is “mum” and “dad”.
- Signpost carers to local and national support (see below for further information).
- Include carers in appointments and care planning.
- Advocate for fair access to services like Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, respite, or financial help.
- Raise awareness throughout CHFT.
Resources and information to support kinship carers
- Calderdale's Community Information Directory | Kinship
- Kirklees Kinship Care Booklet
- Kinship is a national charity who provide advice, peer support groups, training, and the Kinship Compass tool to find local and national help.
In Kirklees, Locala provide the service for looked after children. CHFT's Child Protection and Safeguarding Team cover Calderdale.
If you have questions or want to know more about kinship carers, please contact the team on 01484 728930.