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  • Kinship care

    Topics:
    • Social Care Policy, 
    • Children and Young People Care Services and policies, 
    • Looked after children

    Kinship Care is when a looked after child is placed by a HSC Trust with a relative, friend or other person with a prior connection to the child who is caring for the child full time. A person with a prior connection could be someone who knows the child in a professional capacity such as a childminder, a teacher or youth worker although these are not exclusive categories.

    Legislation

    Current legislation in relation to Kinship Care is set out within;

    • The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
    • The Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002
    • The Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Foster Placement (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • Contact with Children Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Disqualification for Caring for Children Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Placement of Children with Parents etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Refuges (Children's Homes and Foster Placements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Review of Children's Cases Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
    • The Children (Leaving Care) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
    • The Foster Placement (Children) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

    Guidance and regulations

    Guidance for Health and Social Care professionals in relation to Kinship Care is set out within:

    • The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 - Guidance and Regulations - Volume Three - Family Placements and Private Fostering
    • The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 - Guidance and Regulations - Volume Eight - Leaving and After Care

    Minimum kinship care standards

    The Department has published minimum kinship care standards for Health and Social Care professionals to recognise the unique role played by family and friends carers in the lives of children separated from parents.

    • Minimum kinship care standards amended January 2019

    Related content

    • A Life Deserved - A Strategy for Looked After Children
    • Children in foster care
    • Children in private fostering
    • Children in residential care
    • Children in secure accommodation
    • Children leaving care and aftercare
    • Family policy
    • Looked after children
    • The Early Intervention Transformation Programme
    • The Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care (NIFITC) for Care Experienced Children and Young People
    • Young adults' supported accommodation
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