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Kinship Connected
Kinship Connected is an independently evaluated, evidenced-based programme for kinship carers in England and Wales that seeks to strengthen relationships between local authorities and kinship carers.
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What is Kinship Connected?
Kinship Connected offers a tried and tested model to help you meet your requirements as part of the kinship care statutory guidance.
The programme helps kinship carers develop long-term supportive networks, which result in a more stable and supportive environment in which the children they care for can thrive.
Our experienced project workers – many of whom are kinship carers themselves – are normally embedded within local authority teams and work within the community.
The programme includes:
- intensive 1-to-1 family support from experienced project workers, offering guidance and helping kinship carers find the support they need
- the development and facilitation of local support groups in the community
Kinship Connected is fully aligned to the 3 key principles and recommendations in the Foundations Practice Guide on Kinship Care which are:
- Key principle 1: Support for kinship carers should take into account the specific needs and strengths of kinship carers.
- Key principle 2: 1-to-1 relationships and high-quality casework should be at the heart of support for kinship families.
- Key principle 3: Kinship families need to be made aware of the support they are entitled to, and local authorities should actively work to address barriers to accessing support.
Kinship Connected is a tried-and-tested programme, developed in England and Wales, that aligns with examples of Kinship Navigator programmes in the US, which is included in the recommendations.
Read the Foundations Practice Guide Principles and Recommendations.
For more information about commissioning Kinship Connected for your local authority, please see our webpage on commissioning our services.
“I am glad that the local authority has funded this, it shows that they acknowledge our need for support.” (kinship carer)
The independent evaluation
In 2018, we commissioned Stark Consulting to evaluate the impact of the Kinship Connected programme on the kinship families we supported from 2018 to 2020. In this time period, we supported 400 kinship carers in 17 local authority areas across North East England, West Yorkshire and London boroughs.
Louise Starks (Starks Consulting Ltd) and James Whitley (Ecorys) authored the evaluation report, which was published in August 2020.
Evidence shows that the number of children on child protection plans reduced by 86% and those on child-in-need plans by 88%, equating to considerable savings for local authorities.
The evaluation shows clear evidence of the positive impact on kinship carers and their families, including a statistically significant positive impact in the following areas:
- reduced isolation: kinship carers are supported to meet people in the same situation, share experiences and seek advice and support from peers
- decreased financial concerns: kinship cares are supported to access financial support they are entitled to including welfare benefits and emergency grants
- lower levels of concern: especially around managing children’s behaviour and supporting their health and wellbeing
- improved relationships: particularly with other family members
- increased confidence: kinship carers feel more able to cope with their role and responsibilities
The evaluation concluded that the support offered by project workers through the Kinship Connected programme and associated peer support groups was seen as being “vital” by kinship carers who had previously felt neglected and isolated.
“I wish I’d have had this kind of support when I’d first got my SGO. I’d have been in a much better position overall.” (kinship carer)
Our approach and impact in 2023-24
Our strengths-based, solution-focused approach keeps the needs of kinship carers and their children at the centre of all our work. This intensive and targeted support is person-centred and trauma-informed. We use a goal-oriented approach to achieve positive outcomes for kinship families.
As a result of this approach, kinship carers who took part in Kinship Connected in 2023-24 had:
- increased access to support
- improved mental wellbeing
- increased confidence about their child’s behaviour, health and wellbeing and educational transitions
- a decrease in concerns about their child’s relationship and contact with their parents
Find out more about the approach and impact of our programmes in our brochure.
The economic case for Kinship Connected
“A service like Kinship Connected would pay for itself and save local authorities a considerable amount of money that could be spent on children in need, and looked after children.
“It could also reduce the extent of need for statutory intervention because Kinship Connected is a preventative service and would redirect kinship carers to universal support rather than leaving them overwhelmed and needing statutory support via the Children Act 1989.”
Quote from Nicol Economics Report – Kinship Care: The Opportunity (2020).
The report also shows that in addition to the financial benefits – £40,000 saving per child per year – there would be other long-term benefits. It states that every reduction of 1,000 in the number of children in the looked-after system would:
- release resources of the order of £40 million every year that could be used to improve support for kinship carers and improve outcomes for children.
- lead to improved educational and other outcomes in the longer term. For this number of children, improved educational outcomes could increase lifetime earnings by £20 million. There would also be other long-term benefits in terms of reduced homelessness, levels of crime and anti-social behaviour; as well as better health. Such changes would also deliver substantial cost savings to society
A cost-benefit analysis from Ecorys, which formed part of the Kinship Connected evaluation, concludes:
- the cost-benefit ratio for Kinship Connected is 1.20 – for every £1 invested in the programme, £1.20 of benefits is estimated to be generated. This equates to a 20% rate of return on investment
- this provides a good annual return from a relatively small level of investment (compared to the cost of foster care)
Support kinship carers in your local authority
Information, advice and support for professionals working with kinship carers.
Find out how you can commission our services in your local area to support kinship carers.