How to contact us for advice
We provide advice to parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and kinship carers who are involved with children’s services in England or need their help. We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.
Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.
To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). For Textphone dial 18001 followed by the advice line number. Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.
Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.
Our get help and advice section describes the processes that you and your family are likely to go through, so that you know what to expect. Our webchat service can help you find the information and advice on our website which will help you understand the law and your rights.
The Guide sets out best practice as to how an initial family and friends care (‘kinship care’) assessment should be conducted by local authorities. Initial family and friends care assessments are also known as viability assessments. They are used to decide whether a family member or friend might be a potentially realistic option to raise a child who cannot live safely with their parent(s).
The Guide describes what factors social workers conducting the assessment need to consider, including when undertaking assessments with family members overseas. It is also a helpful resource for family members who may be assessed to become kinship carers. The guide includes research evidence, a schedule and example template, and an information sheet for a family and friends carers.
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