Kinship fostering

People become kinship carers in lots of different ways and for lots of different reasons. Some carers have stepped in to support a family member in a crisis for a short period of time whilst the family get the support they need, whilst others have made a more permanent long-term commitment to a child/ren.

Whatever the reason you become a kinship carer, there is support available to you both during and post assessment.

First Steps

When a child is at risk of becoming looked after, or has become looked after, Staffordshire County Council is committed to exploring other people who have a close connection to the child before considering placing children with foster carer’s. 

Prospective kinship foster carer’s will need to be assessed by a social worker from Staffordshire’s kinship team and will then be considered for approval at fostering panel. If the arrangement becomes long-term a special guardianship order may be considered.

Learn more about becoming a Kinship Foster Carer or Special Guardian.