Kinship care is the most common arrangement for the children of women we work with at Pause, and we know how important it is in enabling children to grow up in safe, loving homes within the family network. This Kinship Care Week, we celebrate the vital role of kinship carers and welcome the progress government has made in recognising and supporting them. But we also call for a broader, whole-family approach to supporting kinship families – one that recognises the role parents can continue to play in the lives of their children.
Positive relationship between parents and their children in kinship care help children develop a strong sense of identity, stability and belonging. This relationship can be impacted by the relationship between a parent and the child’s carer – and in kinship care, this can present unique challenges. Unlike fostering or adoption, kinship care involves pre-existing relationships and family ties, which may have been ruptured by the circumstances leading to child removal.
“Sometimes family tensions or conflict can get in the way. A lack of clear communication between adults can cause instability for the child.” – Women with experience of the Pause programme
A grandmother caring for her grandson is also a mother to his parent; an aunt raising her niece is also a sister. These overlapping roles can create complex emotions, strain, and conflict, which ultimately can impact on a child’s wellbeing and stability.
These relationships can also be impacted by confusion over what kinship care means and the new roles and responsibilities of parents and carers. At Pause, we frequently hear from mothers that they don’t fully understand the implications of their child(ren) being in kinship care, such as what rights they retain, or the role children’s social care will play, depending on the placement type.
“I felt like my rights regarding SGO were not fully explained to me….I think I needed someone to fully explain what different care arrangements would mean.” – a woman with experience of the Pause Programme.
Women working with Pause tell us the two types of support that would make the biggest difference to them and their families are:
- Support to navigate relationships so parents can build healthier relationships with kinship carers and work together in a child’s best interests.
- Support to understand their role and rights in kinship care arrangements, reducing confusion and helping everyone understand the role they can play in a child’s life.
As kinship care reforms move forward, it’s crucial that the whole family gets the support they need – children, carers and parents. Parents are often overlooked in kinship care, but with the right support to navigate relationships and understand their rights, they can play a crucial role in their children’s lives, helping them thrive in kinship care.
