Many kinship carers in England and Wales are making life-altering decisions with very little notice, a new survey by the care charity Kinship has found. Four in 10 carers were given less than an hour to decide whether to take in a child, with a further fifth having less than 24 hours.
Kinship carers are typically relatives or family friends who step in to care for children whose parents are unable to look after them, preventing them from entering the care system. More than 141,000 children in England and Wales are currently being raised by kinship carers.
Despite the reliance of children's services on kinship care, which sees twice as many children enter these arrangements as are fostered, the system often lacks the practical, legal, and financial support available for fostering or adoption. Carers report that the decision profoundly changes their lives, bringing unexpected strains on finances, health, and family relationships.
Clive, a primary school headteacher, became a kinship carer for his six-week-old niece after being told she needed to be dropped off the same day. Alan and Julie, both 65, were given 10 minutes to decide whether to care for their severely disabled grandchild, or she would go into local authority care.