The proportion of children raised in kinship foster care varies significantly between local authorities
New government data from parliamentary questions submitted to the Department for Education by Helen Hayes MP shows huge variation between local authorities in England in the likelihood of a child being placed with family or friend foster carers, compared to unrelated foster carers and residential care.
For example, 29% of looked after children in Leeds are in kinship foster care compared to only 7.5% in County Durham.
In Wales, 22% of looked after children are living with kinship foster carers. This ranges from 9% in Casnewydd to 30% in Abertawe (Data provided by Y Bont).
When compared internationally, the 15% of children in care in England in kinship care is much lower than a third in the US, just over half in Australia and nearly two thirds in New Zealand.
Family Rights Group, alongside the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care and the Kinship Care Alliance, have called for kinship care to be explored as the first point of call when there are concerns about a child’s welfare.
The public also support increased help for kinship carers
Alongside children in kinship foster care, there are many more children who are not in the care system but are being raised by kinship carers under other types of legal arrangement. In total, more than 180,000 children across the UK are raised in kinship care. Many have experienced similar adversities to those in the care system but they and their carers are entitled to much less support.
For example, more than half of kinship carers have to give up work or reduce their hours when a child comes to live with them, plunging many into poverty.
- 83% of the public think that a family member should get paid leave (similar to adoption leave) if a child goes to live with them. Just 17% disagree.
Many kinship carers also face crippling legal costs to secure the child’s future.
- 83% of the public think that relatives should have their legal costs covered if a child goes to live with them. 17% think they should cover the costs themselves.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care has been campaigning for paid employment leave for kinship carers and the extension of legal aid to cover legal advice and representation for current and prospective kinship carers. Conservative MP, Katherine Fletcher, also has an upcoming Private Members’ Bill on kinship carers leave.