Kinship fostering

Sometimes parents can’t look after their child for a short while or longer. When a child lives with grandparents, aunts/uncles, older siblings, other relatives or close family friends, this is called kinship care (or family and friends care).

Who it’s for

  • Children and young people living with relatives or family friends.
  • The relatives/friends caring for them (kinship carers).
  • Parents who are arranging care with family or friends.

Our promise

  • Children should grow up safely within their family network whenever it’s right for them.
  • Support is based on the child’s needs, not just their legal status.
  • We’ll work with families early to prevent problems getting worse.

The different ways a child might live with family or friends

  • Informal family care – parents arrange for a child to live with a close relative. Parents keep parental responsibility.
  • Private fostering – a child lives with someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. You must tell Oldham Council about this.
  • Kinship foster care (connected persons foster care or family and friends foster care) – the council places a looked-after child with a relative/family friend who is temporarily approved and then assessed as a foster carer.
  • Legal orders that give carers more responsibility:
    • Child Arrangements Order (CAO) – decides who the child lives with; shares parental responsibility.
    • Special Guardianship Order (SGO) – gives long-term, secure care with relatives/friends; special guardians can make most day-to-day decisions.
    • Adoption – transfers full parental responsibility to adopters.

How we can help

Information, advice and early help

  • Guidance for carers and parents, including kinship care pathways and links to local services (education, health, SEND, youth services, leisure).
  • Early identification and support if a private or informal arrangement starts to struggle.

Assessing support needs

  • If needed to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare, a social worker will complete an assessment and agree a Child in Need plan (and, if required, a Child Protection plan).

Family Time (contact)

We promote safe, positive time between children and their parents/family. Support may include information about contact centres or mediation services.

Money and practical help (case-by-case)

We may help when it’s needed to keep a child safe and well:

  • One-off crisis costs (e.g. food, utilities).
  • Setting-up costs (e.g. bed, bedding, clothing).
  • Regular contributions where appropriate. Any regular support is put in writing, reviewed, and won’t affect parents’ responsibility to maintain their child. We’ll also help carers check they’re getting the right benefits.

Note: Private fostering payments are usually an arrangement between the carer and the parents. Council financial help under private fostering is only in exceptional cases.

If a child is looked after by the council

  • We try to place them with family/friends (Connected Persons) first, with fast-track temporary approval and a full assessment.
  • Fostering allowances are paid (plus possible clothing, birthday/holiday, school and mileage support) in line with fostering guidance.
  • Carers get a supervising social worker, training, support groups and the Foster Care Handbook.

Education & SEND

  • Access to schools, early years and post-16 support.
  • The Virtual School gives advice for children in kinship care (including those on CAO/SGO).
  • SEND support follows the graduated response; some children will have EHCPs with a named SEND Officer.

Other helpful services

  • Family Decision Making (family group meetings).
  • Housing – extra priority (Band 1) where a larger home is needed to care for the child.
  • Mental health & wellbeing – CAMHS and Early Break offers for children in kinship settings.
  • Youth Justice – support where relevant.

Contact

If you’re planning or have started a private fostering arrangement (a child living with a non-relative for 28 days or more), if you’re a kinship carer or parent who needs advice, assessment or support, or if you’re unsure which legal route—Child Arrangements Order (CAO), Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or adoption—fits your situation, please get in touch.

  • For private fostering notifications and safeguarding enquiries, contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0161 770 7777.
  • For general help, childcare and SEND information, email the Family Information Service at familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk.

Policy

For more details on Kinship Fostering please read our policy:

Or visit the Kinship website: