What are the Different Types of Kinship Care?

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Most informal kinship care arrangements are made by a relative of the child or someone who already has parental responsibility. The local authority does not need to be told about informal kinship arrangements, they usually remain private, without any involvement from children’s social care services.

In these situations, the child’s parents keep their parental responsibility and remain responsible for their child’s overall care and wellbeing.

Private fostering happens when someone who isn’t a child’s parent or a close relative (for example, a great aunt, cousin, or a family friend) cares for a child under 16 (or under 18 if the child has a disability) for more than 28 days.

These arrangements are made directly between the child’s parent and the carer—not with the local authority. As a private foster carer, you can make day-to-day decisions for the child, but you do not have parental responsibility and are not responsible for the child’s overall upkeep.

If a child comes into the care of the local authority, the first option considered is whether they can stay with a relative or someone they know. Social workers will assess these individuals as temporary approved foster carers under Regulation 24 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010.

This regulation allows children to be placed immediately with a close relative or family friend—provided it is safe to do so. Temporary approved foster carers can also include other trusted people connected to the child, such as a childminder, teacher, or youth worker.

• Be fully approved as a kinship foster carer, or
• Be supported to apply for a legal order, such as a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or Child Arrangement Order (CAO).

• Regular visits from social workers
  
• Attending training and development sessions
  
• Taking part in an annual fostering review to maintain your approval
  

• You receive financial support and practical help from the local authority.
• Access to training and resources to help you care for the child.