A new survey claims that grandparents in particular in these positions are at breaking point. As many as 200,000 children in Britain are taken in by their grandparents or other extended family members when their parents are either unable or unwilling to look after them. These figures were revealed in the Kinship Carers State of the Nation survey 2019.
What is a Kinship Carer?
But unlike foster carers, 'kinship carers' (as they are often referred to) get little or no financial or emotional support when taking on a child. There may be a sense of feeling pressured or threatened at the risk of the children being taken into care if they do not step in. The view of those conducting the survey suggests more needs to be done with regard to the approach of kinship carers. Their role is vital in raising children who would otherwise be in local authority care. The difficulties arise when there is no support available and this leaves many carers in desperate situations and risks the breakdown of these placements.
Sadly, there is a significant lack of available resources. Frontline social workers are doing their best but with finances being so restricted they too can only do so much. The suggestion is that the government needs to do more and to acknowledge that guidance alone is insufficient.
The survey also revealed that 79 per cent of kinship carers are asked to take on a child by their social worker, 18 per cent by the parents themselves and six per cent by the police. In 83 per cent of cases children’s services have already been involved at some level with the child’s birth parent or original carers.
It goes without saying that there is a huge demand for child protection services whilst councils are forced to slash budgets in these areas. There may not be a never ending pool of money available but the role these carers play must be recognised and supported. Short term measures alone will simply not be good enough.
If you are in this situation there are some useful websites available;
https://www.kinshipcarersuk.com/
https://www.grandparentsplus.org.uk/
https://www.frg.org.uk/
