The Taskforce welcome the measures the Government has introduced so far to help some kinship care families, but we urge Government to go further. Without support, placements may break down and more children would enter the care system, at a much greater cost to the child, family, society and the public purse.
We propose:
Reducing financial hardship and administrative burdens
- A new local Kinship Care Crisis Fund to enable local authorities to respond flexibly to the needs of all kinship families in their locality. Suspension of the bedroom tax when self-isolating. Removal or at least increase the limit of the benefit cap.
Access to justice
- The promised extension of legal aid to special guardians in private law cases to be introduced as a matter of urgency.
Reducing anxieties and increasing support
- UK Government to work with the Kinship Care Alliance to fund a coordinated plan of financial and legal advice, and emotional, education, parenting and practical help to reflect kinship care households’ needs during the crisis.
- Work with supermarkets to prioritise supermarket deliveries for kinship carers and anyone parenting disabled children.
- We welcome the greater flexibility introduced to the Adoption Support Fund and propose that the Government goes a step further by extending the Fund to all children who are subject to special guardianship orders.
Education support for children in kinship care
- All children in kinship care placements, where there is local authority, court or professional evidence that they cannot live with their parents, should be offered a childcare or school place during the crisis.
- The Government offer of laptops or tablets and broadband to support home learning for children in care or who have a social worker, should be extended to all children in kinship care placements.