Kinship foster care is when a child is looked after by the local authority and lives with a family member or family friend who has been approved as a foster carer.

If you are a kinship foster carer, you will have a fostering social worker. They will visit you regularly and provide advice and support.

The child will also have their own social worker and support from other services. This may include looked after child reviews led by an Independent Reviewing Officer.

Kinship foster carers are expected to do the following;

• keep records about the child
• attend meetings, training and reviews
• work closely with social workers and other professionals
• follow the foster care agreement
• adhere to the local authority care plan

Training and development

Southend-On-Sea Fostering Service provides training for all foster carers, including kinship foster carers. Training helps carers understand children’s needs and develop their skills.

Additional support for carers

Support may include support groups, therapeutic advice, membership of The Fostering Network and access to trained mental health practitioners.