Family Rights Group | Kinship carers’ Forum

Robin D wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 7:22 pm In my humble opinion she should start by telling her story to her local councillor for whichever authority is responsible for Children's Services. She can find the contact details on the LA web-site or call them with her address. That might well bring a response. She could also contact her MP at https://members.parliament.uk/findyourm ... South+Down who will ask awkward questions.
Another route to explore is the complaints procedure and she should consider putting in a formal complaint stressing that these are children in need. The information at https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/ ... -decisions will help with that process.
Finally, local press may be interested while maintaining the confidentiality of the situation but I would make that the last resort.

@Suzie the FRG advisor may have further ideas.

NannyDuck56 wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:11 pm My friends sister passed 7 months ago and agreed with her sister that she would look after her children (10 & 5) when the time came. She is a single parent with 2 children of her own (17 & 15). She lives in a 2 bedroom house, so her 2 children, both girls, share a bedroom and she shares a bedroom with her sisters children, even sharing her bed with the 10 year old girl, 5 year old is a boy. Though the girls father does do as much as he can by way of having his child every weekend and as much time as he has off work in school holidays, and maternal grandmother helps as much as she can, my friend is overwhelmed, she has contacted Children's Services in her area more than once, eventually, being accepted and allocated a Family Support Worker from the Early Help Service. Although they have signposted to various support groups for bereavement counselling etc. they are unable to help with the main issues which are housing and funding. As much as she doesn't want to do it, my friend feels there will be no alternative but to give up the children, but then that will lead to them being placed in care, which upsets her greatly, but she just feels she can't carry on like this. She has been told that she doesn't meet the threshold for social worker intervention, even though this would likely help her in respect to applying for kinship care order, which would assist with finances and likely help very much with housing, as it is clear, they cannot live the way they are indefinitely. She has been told she can apply for kinship privately, but that would cost money, which is one of the big problems already. Is there anything she can do, which may prevent her from making a decision that will most definitely not be in the best interests of the children concerned? There are no safeguarding issues, and considering the conditions they live under (cramped, no space) that is very positive. There are however, issues with certain behaviours of the 10 year old girl. Any advice on where my friend could turn to for assistance would be greatly appreciated.