William Eichler 10 October 2024

First national guide on kinship care published

First national guide on kinship care published  image
Image: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com.

The first national guide on kinship care, designed to help local leaders in children’s services support kinship carers and keep children within their family networks, has been published.

There are more than 164,000 children living in kinship care with relatives or close family friends in England and Wales, more than twice the total number of children in foster care.

However, research commissioned by Foundations, has found evidence-based practice is not consistently embedded in local authorities’ culture or leadership in children’s services.

The Kinship Care Practice Guide sets out key recommendations to local authority leaders to improve outcomes for children and kinship families.

These include giving kinship carers specialist support to navigate what is on offer for them and providing structured parenting support programmes for kinship carers.

The guide also recommends making Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) available for kinship carers where children display behaviours that challenge their carers.

Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive at Foundations, said the guide ‘signals a new era in evidence-led practice in kinship care.’

Cath McEvoy-Carr, director of Children, Education and Skills in Newcastle, and chair of the North East Association of Directors of Children's Services, said: ‘As a Director of Children’s Services, I know that local authorities' want to use the highest quality evidence when they develop and commission kinship care services.

‘Foundations’ new Kinship Care Practice Guide marks a step change in the quality, rigour and accessibility of evidence available to us.’

Janet Daby, Minister for Children and Families, added: 'The Kinship Practice Guide will play a key role in driving best practice in local authorities and ensuring kinship carers have clear routes to accessing the help they need.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner