Kinship care

Informal kinship care is a private family arrangement where a child is cared for by a close relative or trusted family member who does not have parental responsibility.

These arrangements are made within the family and:

• the local authority has not played a significant role in setting up the arrangement, and
• no Family Court order has been made about the child’s care.

Informal kinship care is often flexible and based on family agreement. Because there is no court order in place the person or people who holds parental responsibility for the child does not change..

Support for informal kinship carers

Even though informal kinship care is arranged privately, support is available to help both carers and children. This can include:

• Advice and guidance from Lincolnshire County Council about caring for a child safely
• Access to training and resources to support child development, wellbeing, and attachment
• Peer support groups where carers can share experiences and get advice from other families
• Signposting to services such as housing, education, health, and family help

If you are caring for a child under an informal kinship arrangement and need advice or support, you can contact the Customer Service Centre on 01522 782 111.