Kinship local offer

Welcome to the Stoke-on-Trent Kinship Local Offer.

This website is here to help kinship carers in Stoke-on-Trent find the information, advice, and support they need. Whether you're new to kinship care or have been caring for a child for some time, you’ll find help for topics like housing, education, financial support, legal advice, and more.

Please explore the pages to learn about the help available to you and the children you care for.

How this site can help

If you have a social worker or family support worker, they can also help you access the services and support listed here.

The Stoke-on-Trent Kinship Local Offer brings together all the information you need in one place. You’ll find dedicated pages on:

 

What is Kinship Care?

Kinship care is when a child is raised by relatives or close family friends because their parents are unable to care for them. This arrangement helps children stay connected to their family, culture, and community, and provides them with a safe and familiar environment.

Laws About Kinship Care

There are important laws and policies in the UK that support kinship families:

  • Wherever possible, children should live with family or friends if they cannot live with their parents. (Children Act 1989)
  • Kinship carers should receive the support they need to care for children. (Children and Families Act 2014)
  • Local councils must provide clear and accessible support for kinship families. (National Kinship Care Strategy 2024)
Types of Kinship Care

Kinship care can take many forms. Here are the main types:

Informal Kinship Care:

  • When family or friends care for a child without involvement from the local council. These arrangements are made privately within the family.

Private Fostering

  • When someone who is not a close relative (e.g. a family friend) cares for a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) for more than 28 days. The council must be notified of this arrangement.

Formal Kinship Care:

  • When the local council places a child with relatives or friends, who may be approved as foster carers.

Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs):

  • A legal order that gives kinship carers parental responsibility, allowing them to make important decisions for the child. This can be arranged through the courts, with or without council involvement.

Adoption:

  • When a child legally becomes part of a new family and the adoptive parents take on full parental rights and responsibilities.
Help for Kinship Carers

Kinship carers may be entitled to a range of support, including:

  • Financial assistance
  • Legal advice
  • Housing support
  • Childcare and educational help
  • Emotional and peer support

The National Kinship Care Strategy aims to ensure that kinship families receive the recognition and help they deserve.

Accountability

The senior officer responsible for the Kinship Local Offer in Stoke-on-Trent is: Tracey Chapman, Head of Fostering and Adoption. She can be contacted via fostering@stoke.gov.uk.