Understanding Kinship Care Arrangements and Parental Responsibility

Understanding formal Understanding formal arrangements in kinship arrangements in kinship care care Amanda Carrington Bennet Klopsch Funded by the Department for Education

Who is Kinship? Who is Kinship? Kinship is the leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We offer kinship carers financial, legal, practical and emotional support and understanding from the moment they need it, for as long as they need it.

Working together Working together Duration of the session Disturbances and mobiles Sharing what is comfortable Confidentiality One voice and respect for others

Today's workshop Today's workshop After the workshop, you'll : know the different types of formal care arrangements be able to describe the different formal arrangements in relation to parental responsibility have explored tips and suggestions around the different types of formal arrangements with your peers know where to access support when this is necessary

Who is here today? Who is here today? Share if you are comfortable: your name the number of children you care for as a kinship carer your relationship to the child or children you care for which formal arrangement you have

What is kinship care? What is kinship care?

Kinship care arrangements Kinship care arrangements

What is parental responsibility? What is parental responsibility?

Parental responsibility means the rights, duties, responsibilities and powers which the law gives a parent in relation to their child. Kinship carers have different levels of parental responsibility depending on their arrangement.

Activity: Activity: Parental responsibility quiz Parental responsibility quiz

Quiz answers Quiz answers Only with parental responsibility: deciding where a child lives giving consent for medical treatment choosing a school/nursery for a child Don't need parental responsibility: deciding a child's bedtime taking a child to a GP appointment teaching a child to read

Why does parental Why does parental responsibility responsibility matter? matter? The people who hold parental responsibility can legally make decisions about how the child is raised. Understanding your legal rights and responsibilities will make it easier to navigate these decisions as you care for your child.

Parental responsibility in formal arrangements: Parental responsibility in formal arrangements: child arrangements order carer has some parental responsibility, shared with parents special guardianship order carer has overriding parental responsibility, shared with parents family and friends foster care local authority has some parental responsibility, shared with parents carer has no parental responsibility

Formal kinship care Formal kinship care

"She always cared for me, looked after me and we had a lot of fun [My grandparents] used to record the things we did together, days out and zoos, play dates and activities with friends and all that. They liked to keep the memories. We ve still got them all now." Young person raised in kinship care

Activity: Your rights in a formal Activity: Your rights in a formal arrangement arrangement

Your rights in a formal arrangement Your rights in a formal arrangement In your groups, please answer these questions for each type of arrangement: 1. Who do you contact if you need support with something? 2. Can you claim child benefit? 3. Who is responsible for managing family time/contact arrangements? 4. Can a birth parent challenge a CAO/SGO/Care order once it has been made?

Activity: Activity: Aadil's Aadil's story story

Aadil's Aadil's story story Aadil has been asked by social services to care for his two young nephews. He has two teenage daughters of his own and is suddenly thrown into caring for pre- schoolers around his full-time job. Age: 40 Ethnicity: South Asian Relationship to children: Uncle

Mahfuz is looking after his two young children alone after his wife passes away. Mahfuz is struggling with his mental health and his brother Aadil, offers to look after the boys occasionally. Unexpectedly, Aadil gets a call from social services to say his nephews will be taken into care unless Aadil and his wife, Basma can take them in today. Aadil and Basma say yes, and rush home to get their spare room ready.

Aadil's Aadil's story story - - discussion discussion This is all new to me. I ve got no idea where to start. I m not sure what I m looking for - I just need some help. The social worker speaks to Aadil and his wife about having long-term care of the children. Room 1 discuss the challenges of each type of formal arrangement Room 2 discuss the benefits of each type of formal arrangement

Essential documents Essential documents for for all all kinship carers: kinship carers: birth certificate passport special guardianship order / child arrangements order proof of immigration status (if applicable) Child in Need (CIN) plan if your child has one Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan if your child has one letter of support for Pupil Premium Plus (if child was previously looked after by the local authority)

Essential documents Essential documents for friends friends foster carers only foster carers only: : for family and family and placement meeting plan list of delegated responsibilities

Working with your local Working with your local authority authority

Building Building a a successful successful relationship with your relationship with your local authority local authority: : understanding your options support funding child s background and history contact and parental responsibility

Activity: Activity: Group discussion Group discussion - - why would someone change why would someone change their arrangement? their arrangement?

Getting legal advice Getting legal advice

When to seek legal advice When to seek legal advice At the beginning of your kinship journey eg children s services contact you and ask you to look after a family member's child When circumstances change eg not having parental responsibility is causing difficulties

Something to be proud of a film by Kinship

How can Kinship support you? How can Kinship support you? Website kinship.org.uk Workshops and training kinship.org.uk/events Advice service 0300 123 7015 kinship.org.uk/advice

How can Kinship support you? How can Kinship support you? Peer to peer support groups kinship.org.uk/peer Someone like me kinship.org.uk/ someone-like-me

Any questions or Any questions or comments? comments?

This workshop was developed by funding from the Department for Education. Next steps: - Evaluation form - Future workshops