WIREDGOV

Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responded to a report by Grandparents Plus on kinship carers – family members or friends who step in to look after children 

“Kinship carers provide a vital service to society, stepping in to provide love and care for children who are no longer able to live with their birth parents.

“Councils are doing what they can to make sure families get the help they need and have policies in place to support the needs of children living with kinship carers.There are many examples of good practice in terms of support for kinship carers and we need to make sure practice is consistent across the country.

“Demand for child protection services has increased significantly while councils’ budgets to support children and families continue to be under increasing pressure, with money being diverted to protect those children at most immediate risk of harm.

“Extra funding for next year will help, but government needs to ensure that councils receive the long-term, consistent funding they need to make sure all children and families are able to thrive.”

Kinship care is in crisis, in more ways than one