Many grandparents, relatives and friends are asked by social services to care for a child rather than be placed with foster carers. Many such children have been physically or emotionally abused.
Many relatives and friends agree to care for a child at a moment's notice. But such decisions are often life-changing.
Many carers do not realise that both they and the children have legal rights,
Too often local authorities will claim they have no legal responsibility - or will press carers to apply for a residence order.
Grandparents fear that others may think that they are "in it for the money".
Kinship carers need to be realistic about what they have taken on. Children cost money and, in an age where local authorities are increasingly reliant on agency foster carers, a family placement will cost a lot less.
The local authority owes a number of duties towards these children.
Nigel Priestley and his team have a national reputation for working with Kinship Carers and in challenging local authorities' policies and actions. He is a member of the Management Committee of the Family Rights Group and works closely with the Grandparents' Association.
Ridley & Hall can offer multidisciplinary advice to kinship carers not just in relation to financial support. We can also ensure that needy children are properly assessed and local authorities challenged to provide support for children and carers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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