1. What Is Kinship Care?

Kinship care means a child lives with someone they already know because their parents cannot safely care for them.

Examples:

• Parent illness
• Domestic abuse
• Addiction
• Prison
• Death
• Neglect
• Safeguarding concerns

Official kinship information:
Kinship UK

2. Grandparents’ Legal Rights

Grandparents do not automatically have legal rights to see grandchildren in England & Wales.

However, grandparents can:

• Apply for contact
• Apply for children to live with them
• Seek parental responsibility
• Become special guardians
• Become foster carers
• Apply for adoption in some situations

Official parliamentary guidance:
Grandparents’ Rights Guidance

3. Types of Kinship Care Arrangements

A. Informal Family Arrangement

No court order.

Grandparents/family simply care for child informally.

Parents usually retain:

• Parental responsibility
• Legal decision-making powers

This can create problems with:

• Schools
• Medical consent
• Benefits
• Passports

B. Child Arrangements Order (CAO)

A Family Court order stating:

• Child lives with grandparent/relative

This gives the carer:

Parental Responsibility

while the order remains active.

Official form:
C100 Child Arrangements Form

C. Special Guardianship Order (SGO)

One of the most important kinship orders.

A Special Guardianship Order:

• Gives long-term stability
• Gives enhanced parental responsibility
• Usually lasts until child is 18

The special guardian can make most decisions without needing parental agreement.

Official guidance:
Become a Special Guardian

Detailed support guidance:
Special Guardianship Guidance (Kinship)

4. Who Can Apply for a Special Guardianship Order?

You must:

• Be over 18
• Not be the child’s parent

Grandparents commonly apply.

Official eligibility rules:
Who Can Apply for SGO

5. How Special Guardianship Works

Special guardians receive:

• Parental responsibility
• Decision-making authority
• Long-term care rights

Parents usually:

• Keep parental responsibility
• Lose primary control

Special guardians generally have the “final say” on most day-to-day issues.

6. Special Guardianship vs Adoption

Birth parents keep PR

Usually yes        Special Guardianship

No                       Adoption

Child legally remains in birth family

Yes                      Special Guardianship

No

Long-term stability

Yes                      Special Guardianship

Yes                      Adoption

Child’s surname changes automatically

No                       Special Guardianship

Often                   Adoption

Usually used for relatives

Commonly         Special Guardianship

Less common   Adoption

Official guidance:
Cafcass Special Guardianship Orders

7. Family Court Process

Most applications go through:

Family Court

Common forms:

• C100
• C1A (harm/domestic abuse allegations)
• Special Guardianship applications

8. Social Services & Kinship Care

Local authorities may:

• Assess grandparents
• Support kinship placements
• Conduct safeguarding investigations
• Recommend Special Guardianship

Assessments usually consider:

• Safety
• Housing
• Financial stability
• Child welfare
• Criminal checks

9. Kinship Foster Care

Some grandparents become:

Family & Friends Foster Carers

This usually occurs when:

• Child is looked after by local authority
• Care proceedings are ongoing

Kinship foster carers may receive:

• Financial support
• Training
• Allowances

Official guidance:
Family and Friends Care Statutory Guidance

10. Financial Support for Kinship Carers

Possible support includes:

• Child Benefit
• Universal Credit
• Guardian’s Allowance
• Special Guardianship support
• Local authority allowances

Recent government pilots expanded kinship financial support in some areas.

Official benefits guidance:
Benefits for Kinship Carers

11. Guardian’s Allowance

May apply if:

• Parent died
• Child lives with relative

Official guidance:
Guardian’s Allowance

12. Housing & Kinship Care

Kinship carers may need:

• Larger housing
• Housing benefit help
• Council rehousing support

Housing support:
Shelter UK

13. Schools & Medical Decisions

Without parental responsibility, grandparents may struggle with:

• School admissions
• Medical consent
• Passports
• Education decisions

Court orders help formalise authority.

14. Cafcass & Kinship Care

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service may:

• Interview family members
• Assess child welfare
• Recommend placements
• Investigate safeguarding issues

Official site:
Cafcass

15. Safeguarding & Kinship Care

Courts and social services prioritise:

Child welfare

Main concerns include:

• Domestic abuse
• Neglect
• Substance misuse
• Mental health
• Stability
• Emotional harm

Main safeguarding guidance:
Working Together to Safeguard Children

16. Emergency Situations

Grandparents may need urgent orders if:

• Parent disappears
• Child abandoned
• Child at immediate risk
• Police/social services involved

Possible emergency applications:

• Emergency Child Arrangements Order
• Prohibited Steps Order
• Recovery Order
• Interim Care Arrangements

17. Contact Between Child & Parents

Courts often encourage:

• Safe ongoing family contact
• Supervised contact if necessary

However courts can:

• Restrict contact
• Supervise contact
• Stop contact if unsafe

18. Kinship Care During Care Proceedings

If social services begin:

Care Proceedings

grandparents/family members may be assessed as:

• Connected persons
• Potential special guardians
• Alternative carers

Official court guidance:
Care Proceedings Guidance

19. Evidence Grandparents Should Keep

Useful evidence includes:

• School records
• Medical records
• Contact logs
• Financial records
• Social services communications
• Police references
• Child care history

Chronologies are especially important.

20. Can Parents Remove the Child Later?

Depends on the arrangement.

Informal Arrangement

Parents may usually reclaim care.

Child Arrangements Order

Court involvement required.

Special Guardianship

Much harder to reverse. Courts require strong reasons.

21. Legal Aid

Legal aid may sometimes be available for:

• Care proceedings
• Domestic abuse
• Special guardianship advice
• Child protection cases

Official checker:
Check Legal Aid Eligibility

Find solicitor:
Find a Legal Aid Adviser

22. Main Forms

C100

Child arrangements applications.

C100 Form

C1A

Domestic abuse/harm allegations.

C1A Form

Special Guardianship Guidance

Special Guardianship Official Guidance

23. Important Organisations

Kinship

Major UK kinship care charity.

Kinship UK

Family Rights Group

Supports relatives and kinship carers.

Family Rights Group

Grandparents Plus / Kinship

Now merged into Kinship.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Family Guidance

24. Common Problems Kinship Carers Face

• Lack of financial support
• Delayed assessments
• Conflict with parents
• School/medical authority issues
• Housing shortages
• Court costs
• Emotional stress
• Trauma in children

25. Important Practical Advice

Keep Everything Documented

Save:

• Emails
• School communications
• Medical evidence
• Social worker records

Ask for Written Support Plans

Especially for:

• Special Guardianship
• Financial support
• Therapy support

Focus on Child Welfare

Courts prioritise:

• Stability
• Safety
• Emotional wellbeing

26. Key Official Resources

• Children Act 1989
• Become a Special Guardian
• Kinship UK
• Family Rights Group
• Cafcass