Becoming a kinship carer

If a child is not looked after by their local council, you can arrange kinship care with their parents without involving the council. This is a non-looked after kinship care arrangement and you do not need to do anything else.

If you are a kinship carer of a looked after child

When the child of a close relative or friend is placed with you by the local council, this is a looked after kinship care arrangement. In this case, you may be entitled to support from the council to help looked after the child.

The local council will check that you are able to look after the child. This process may begin after the child is already living with you and can take a few months. The council may check in again with you every year. 

The council will check things such as:  

• your criminal record (also known as a PVG disclosure check)
• your medical history
• referees (character witnesses)
• the safety of your home
• your existing relationship with the child
• your own family and friends who may help you look after the child 

Get parental responsibilities and rights for the child

The local council may decide that parental responsibilities and rights should be removed from the parents or shared with someone else. This would be granted by a court order. 

There are different kinds of court order that could be granted, including: 

• kinship care order
• permanence order 
• compulsory supervision order

Kinship care order

A kinship care order formally recognises your kinship care arrangement and will give you shared parental responsibilities and rights.

It also means:

• the child is no longer legally looked after
• you'll be entitled to local council support until the child turns 16

You need to go to court to get a kinship care order. You can get advice on starting the process from your local council or a social worker.

If the child is legally looked after, your local council may help you with the cost of applying for a kinship care order. 

Permanence order

A permanence order can remove some or all parental responsibilities and rights from the parents. Only the local council can apply to the court for a permanence order.

It means the council hold the parental responsibilities and rights. They may then share these rights with the kinship carer.

It also means:

• the child or young person is still legally looked after
• the kinship carer will be entitled to council support until the child or young person turns 18

If the child or young person is aged 12 or over, the permanence order will only be granted if the child agrees to it – unless they are unable to give consent.

Compulsory supervision order

A compulsory supervision order has special conditions attached. This will be put in place by a children’s hearing.

A compulsory supervision order means the local council will be responsible for the child's care and support, but parental responsibilities and rights remain with the parents.

It also means: 

• the child or young person is legally looked after
• the kinship carer will be entitled to council support until the child or young person turns 18
• there may be other conditions that will be specific to your family’s situation, for example, where the child or young person must live