In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the UK’s approach to fostering, with a growing emphasis on placing children with their own family members, known as kinship care, rather than with mainstream foster carers. This change reflects a broader understanding of the benefits of maintaining familial connections for children who cannot live with their birth parents.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons behind this shift, its impact on foster care, and what it means for families and fostering agencies.
Why the Shift Towards Family Placements?
- The Importance of Stability and Familiarity
Children who are removed from their parents’ care have often experienced significant trauma. Placing them with family members or close friends can help minimise disruption and provide a sense of stability during a challenging time. Familiar surroundings, relationships, and cultural contexts can make the transition less daunting for the child. - Supporting Emotional Wellbeing
Research shows that children placed with relatives or close family friends tend to fare better emotionally. Being cared for by someone they already know and trust can reduce feelings of abandonment and loss, which are common among children in care. - Aligning with Legal and Policy Frameworks
UK legislation, such as the Children Act 1989, prioritises family placements whenever it is safe and practical to do so. The government’s 2022 Independent Review of Children’s Social Care reinforced the importance of family care, calling for systemic changes to better support kinship carers. - The Foster Care Crisis
With a growing shortage of mainstream foster carers, local authorities face immense pressure to find suitable placements. Family placements help alleviate this pressure by increasing the pool of potential carers, while ensuring children are placed with people who have a vested interest in their welfare.
Benefits of Family Placements
- Maintaining Family Ties
Family placements allow children to maintain connections with their extended family, preserving cultural heritage and sibling relationships. This continuity can provide children with a stronger sense of identity and belonging. - Long-Term Stability
Family placements are often more stable than mainstream fostering arrangements, which can reduce the likelihood of multiple moves. For children, fewer placement disruptions mean better emotional and educational outcomes. - Cost-Effectiveness
While cost should never be the sole factor in care decisions, kinship care often requires fewer resources than mainstream foster care, as family members are less likely to request high levels of financial support.
Challenges of Placing Children with Family Members
- Readiness and Support for Kinship Carers
Many family members step into the role of carer with little preparation or prior experience. Unlike mainstream foster carers, who receive training and ongoing support, kinship carers often face challenges with limited guidance or financial assistance. - Balancing Relationships
Caring for a child within the family can complicate existing relationships. Kinship carers may need to navigate complex dynamics with the child’s birth parents, who might still be involved in the child’s life. - Legal and Administrative Barriers
The process of becoming a kinship foster carer can be lengthy and bureaucratic, with family members required to meet similar standards to mainstream foster carers. While this ensures the child’s safety, it can deter some family members from stepping forward.
How Local Authorities Are Adapting
To facilitate the shift towards family placements, local authorities and fostering agencies are implementing a range of initiatives:
- Enhanced Training and Support for Kinship Carers Many councils now offer tailored training programmes for kinship carers, focusing on parenting strategies, trauma-informed care, and navigating legal responsibilities.
- Financial Assistance Recognising the financial burden on kinship carers, some local authorities provide allowances similar to those received by mainstream foster carers.
- Simplifying the Assessment Process Efforts are being made to streamline the assessment process for kinship carers without compromising the child’s safety or wellbeing. This includes prioritising family placements during initial placement decisions.
- Raising Awareness of Kinship Care Campaigns and outreach programmes aim to educate families about the option of stepping forward as carers, reducing reliance on mainstream fostering.
What Does This Mean for Mainstream Foster Carers?
While family placements are increasingly prioritised, mainstream foster carers remain vital to the system. Not every child can be placed with a relative or family friend, particularly in cases where it is unsafe or impractical. Mainstream foster carers play an essential role in providing care for children with complex needs, emergency placements, or those awaiting long-term solutions.
Looking Ahead
The shift towards family placements reflects an evolving understanding of what is best for children in care. By prioritising relationships, stability, and familiarity, this approach has the potential to improve outcomes for vulnerable children across the UK.
However, for this shift to succeed, significant investment is needed to support kinship carers, streamline processes, and ensure that all children—whether placed with family members or foster carers—receive the care and support they deserve.
As we move forward, fostering agencies, local authorities, and policymakers must work collaboratively to balance the benefits of family placements with the invaluable role of mainstream foster carers, creating a system that puts children’s needs at the centre.