In December 2023, the Government launched the first ever national kinship care strategy, ‘Championing Kinship Care’. I hope this reassures constituents that the importance and value of kinship carers in the care system is recognised. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank campaigners for working tirelessly for those they care for and championing this cause.
Backed by £20 million to deliver the strategy, the Government has confirmed it will provide an allowance to many kinship carers to match that received by foster carers - currently between £154 and £270 per week, per child. This is currently being trialled in up to 8 areas of the country and will help ensure that people do not have to choose between becoming a carer and being able to afford to support their families.
Backed by £3.8 million, the Government is also expanding the role of virtual school heads – education champions within local authorities – to cover kinship care. They will ensure that the education of children in kinship care is prioritised so they go on to have bright futures.
Foster care has also been bolstered with an additional £8.5 million. This takes the total Government investment across this Parliament to £36 million, which is the largest ever investment in fostering in England. The funding will ensure there are more foster carers available to step up and look after children by extending recruitment campaigns, simplifying recruitment processes, and providing better support for existing foster carers to even more local authorities.
The new kinship strategy and extra foster care funding are part of a suite of initiatives which meet commitments set out in the children’s social care strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’, published in February 2023.
The children’s social care strategy outlined measures to transform children’s social care, properly supporting families, integrating the child protection system, improving foster carer recruitment, and hiring more social workers. As part of this, there will be a focus on keeping children in the care of family and loved ones through improved support and reducing barriers to kinship care. This includes investing £9 million in kinship care training and support.
Further, statutory guidance for local authorities on supporting kinship carers has been issued. This makes it clear that children and young people should receive the support that they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare. It explains that support, including financial support, can be provided under the Children Act 1989. Local authorities should also have clear eligibility criteria in place in relation to the support services they provide.
Local authorities are also required by central government to publish a policy that sets out their approach to promoting and supporting the needs of all children living with kinship carers. The policy should be clear, updated regularly, and made freely and widely available. I would encourage you to contact our local authority for more information about the policy in our area. I am also aware that the Government is supporting the Kinship charity to deliver up to 100 peer-to-peer support groups across England to support kinship carers.
The Government will also be recruiting the first-ever national kinship care ambassador to advocate for kinship carers, work directly with local authorities to improve services and help to ensure that local authorities provide a consistent service that complies with government requirements.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Westminster Hall debate on the National Kinship Care Strategy for England due to prior commitments. However, while I know there is still much left to be achieved, I am greatly encouraged by the amount of cross-party support there is for this issue.
I have provided a link to the debate, which I hope you will find interesting, here:
Kinship Care Strategy - Hansard - UK Parliament
