We recently arranged a celebration event for more than fifty Kinship Carers to acknowledge and give thanks for their vital role in helping keep children in Devon safe.
Kinship care is a term used to describe arrangements where a family member takes on the caring responsibilities for a child, often due to birth parents being unable to do so.
The arrangements are made through the courts under Special Guardianship Orders. Sometimes applications are made privately, and other times applications are made where a child is placed by the court in local authority care for their safety and wellbeing.
There are around 700 special guardians in Devon, and some are providing homes and caring for more than one child – records show an increase in the number of Special Guardianship Orders covering sibling groups.
All special guardians have access to support and guidance from Devon County Council’s Kinship Team.
Those special guardians who are providing homes and care children placed in the council’s care also receive financial support to help cover essential associated costs.
Other support from the County Council includes a help line, and signposting to information from services, events and activities that may help kinship carers in their roles.
They can also step in to provide support in moments of crisis.
Janine Redhead is the Team Manager for the council’s Kinship Team.
She said:
“We organised the event as a celebration to thank kinship carers for what they do.
“They’re a vitally important part of the care system, supporting and providing loving homes for children whose birth parents are unable to care for them themselves.”
Councillor Richard Jefferies, the council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for children’s social care, said:
“My thanks to all kinship carers in the county for being there when children in their families need them. They are helping to keep families together, and continuing to provide that loving family network.”
