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There are different types of kinship caring arrangements. 

Arrangements by the family

In this case, the parent makes the arrangement. 

Or, a close family member (grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or step-parent), steps in because the parents were not available.

The length of the arrangement is decided by the person with parental responsibility or someone who has been granted a legal order to care for the child.

Temporary arrangements

There are some interim caring arrangements that may be used during assessment.

For full details, speak to the family's Social Worker or the Connected Carers team at the Council.

Care order 

A care order allows the Council to share parental responsibility.

The Council approves the carer and places the child. If the carer is a relative or friend of the family, they are called a family and friends foster carer.

The child remains cared for unless a child arrangements order or special guardianship order is made.

See .

Child arrangements order 

This is a court order that sets out where the child lives, who they live with, and who they should spend time or have contact with.

In this case, the Council may have placed the child, or the parent made the arrangement, or a carer stepped in because the parents were not available.

This was previously known as a residence order.

See more about .

Special guardianship order 

This is a court order that places a child or a young person to live with someone other than their parents.

The special guardian will get higher parental responsibility than other persons with parental responsibility for the child.

It offers more security than a child arrangement order because a parent cannot request for it to be removed unless the court has given permission to do so.

Parental responsibility is shared between parents and the special guardian carer, with the special guardian carer having the ability to make day-to-day decisions.