Kinship care

Support for all kinship carers

Housing

Education

Virtual School Support for Children in Kinship Care

The Lincolnshire Virtual School ensures that children in kinship care get the educational support they need to thrive. We work with carers, schools, and professionals to help children succeed and overcome challenges.

Our support includes:

  • Advisory support: Guidance for kinship carers, schools, and professionals about the child’s learning needs.
  • Training: Joint training opportunities with the Fostering Team.
  • Pupil Premium Plus Advocacy: Supporting access to additional funding where appropriate.
  • School transitions and attendance: Helping children settle, attend regularly, and succeed in school.
  • Social and emotional wellbeing: Promoting access to pastoral support and appropriate services.
  • Voice of the child: Ensuring the child’s views are considered in all education decisions.
  • Multi-agency collaboration: Working with Children’s Services, Health, and other agencies to provide joined-up support.

We are here to champion the educational progress of children in kinship care and empower carers with the tools to support them effectively.

Find out more about what a virtual school is

Peer Support Groups

Local Authority peer support groups complement Kinship Compass groups, offering carers a chance to share experiences and get advice:

Contact: adoptionsupporthelpline@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Family Help Support Services

For targeted support for a child, families can self-refer via the Family Help Front Door: 01522 782 111

Lincolnshire Team Around the Family

The Team Around the Family (TAF) initiative in Lincolnshire is designed to support children and families at the earliest opportunity. It involves a collaborative effort among various professionals to prevent or reduce difficulties for children and their families.

  • Families can self‑refer via an Family Help Assessment
  • Schools/professionals can request targeted support by completing an Family Help Assessment

Find out more about the Lincolnshire Team Around the Family

Early Years Childcare and Education

Family Hubs

Lincolnshire is part of the government’s Family Hubs programme, which provides joined-up support services from pregnancy through to age 19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).

Training

Lincolnshire County Council works with the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership to provide virtual and face-to-face training opportunities for kinship carers.

You can register for the Kinship Carer safeguarding e-learning courses (select Kinship Carer as your group).

All eLearning is available once logged in.

Once logged in you can locate eLearning by clicking on the 'Learning' tile, then scrolling down to the 'Available Learning' section and clicking the 'View All' button. This will bring up the full list of e-learning courses available to request.

For support on how to use the system view the how to use Enable guide.

Lincolnshire Parent and Carer Forum (LPCF)

LPCF works with the Local Authority and Health to ensure services meet the needs of children with disabilities and special educational needs.

Domestic abuse

Young Carers

Lincolnshire Young Carers supports children and young people up to 19 who help care for someone at home.

  • Offers needs assessments, information, support, and group activities
  • Referrals can be made by families or professionals

To refer to Lincolnshire Young Carers; if your child is open to Team Around the Family or has a Social Worker you can ask them to complete a referral on your behalf. If your child is not open you can self-refer by emailing youngcarers@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

County Carers Group

Supports families of young adults (14+) and adults with learning disabilities or autism.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Children’s Health

Special Educational Needs

Caring for children with additional needs:

Half-Term Clubs and Activities

Positive Futures

Sports and physical activity programmes in: Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Lincoln, Skegness, South Holland

Family Services Directory

Our directory includes:

  • Ofsted registered childcare (childminders, pre-schools, day nurseries, after-school clubs)
  • Unregistered childcare (parent/toddler groups, childcare for over-8s)
  • Advice on choosing childcare and financial support
  • Local and national support organisations
  • Leisure activities, leaflets, guides
  • Career info for childcare
  • Support for families of children with disabilities or additional needs
  • Lincolnshire children’s centres
  • Find family services

Youth and Community Development

Lincolnshire Youth and Community Development Workers provide:

Children that have been in care: The child in your care may be eligible for leaving Care services.

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