Kinship Care: Supporting Children in Placements with Extended Family and Friends

Abstract

There is little written about children living in kinship care placements, either generally about the role and work of social services in supporting such placements or specifically about kinship care from carers' and users' perspectives. For a child in need who can no longer live with their birth parents(s), being supported by social services to live with a member of her or his extended family can be another appropriate placement option. Given that a good-sized proportion of looked after children, at least equivalent to those in residential care, are placed with a relative or friend, it is argued here that kinship care merits much more discussion, research and development than has hitherto been the case. Based on an ongoing research project, Bob Broad seeks to begin to redress this balance. After reviewing the kinship care literature, as well as the legislative and policy context, research findings from an ongoing research project are presented. The views of kinship carers are given, which suggest they value the support of social workers and require further support, financial payments, information and recognition from social services. Questions are also raised about the over-representation of black children in such placements.