Time To Define Kinship Care

Kinship carers are family and friends, who are raising children who are unable to live with their parents. Such situations often arise as a result of tragedy or trauma. But there is no single definition of kinship care in legislation. As a result, the child’s carer can face many challenges including not being recognised by hospital services or schools. Many carers are also currently entitled to little or no support for the child and themselves, especially if they have stepped in during an emergency. 

“Without an agreed definition, kinship carers can quickly run into a myriad of confusion and misunderstanding” says Family Rights Group’s Principal Legal Adviser, Caroline Lynch. “At the very moment when the child they are caring for needs stability and support, kinship carers find they are having to constantly explain who they are and what they need.” 

Family Rights Group is proposing a universal definition of kinship care be written into primary legislation which would encompass the different types of kinship care arrangement. Meeting the definition would then automatically passport kinship carers and their children to entitlement to a minimum level of support and services.