Kinship care is when a child is looked after by someone who is not their parent. This is often a grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend.
Kinship carers might have worries about balancing their work, commitments, or finances while caring for a child.
We understand these challenges and are committed to supporting kinship carers.
We have a responsibility to ensure all children in our care are safe and loved.
How we support kinship carers
We can support kinship carers with:
- assessment and planning
- financial support
- practical and emotional support
- education and health
- legal arrangements.
Assessment and planning
We provide support with:
- assessments for potential kinship carers
- legal orders such as Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) and Child Arrangement Orders (CAOs)
- placement planning meetings and authority agreements.
Financial support
We provide financial support through:
- kinship allowances
- financial support for special guardians (this is reviewed annually)
- helping with legal costs for obtaining orders.
Practical and emotional support
We give practical and emotional support by providing access to:
- our Kinship and Post Order Support Team
- a dedicated private fostering social worker
- the Mockingbird Programme
- support groups and networks
- training and development
- therapeutic services for children and carers.
Education and health
We support the child’s education and health with:
- support from Medway's Virtual School head for children in kinship care
- help with school admissions
- health assessments and referrals to Medway Young People's Wellbeing Service (MYPWS).
Legal arrangements
We offer support with:
- Child Arrangement Orders
- Special Guardianship Orders
- private fostering arrangements
- temporary approval under regulation 24.
Our support is reviewed annually to ensure it reflects current legislation, best practice and the needs of our community.
How to get support
To get support, email sgo.support@medway.gov.uk
The Kinship charity
Kinship are a charity who support kinship carers. They provide:
- training and workshops
- advice on caring for a foster child
- resources on a wide range of subjects.