Health and wellbeing

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion that everyone has. But sometimes anger can seem unkind, aggressive and even frightening. Here are some practical tips to spot, manage and get support with anger issues.

Learn how you can use stories to explore difficult topics like identity and emotional wellbeing within your kinship family.

Learn how emotional and mental health issues might affect kinship children. Understand how to discuss them, and recognise the impact of trauma.

Learn about online safety and how to keep the children you care for safe online - including starting conversations about online life, and where to get further support.

Learn about life story work – what it is, when to consider it, techniques to carry it out (and get support), as well as how it can help kinship children build a positive self-image.

Find out more about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) including what it is, how it can present itself and how to support children in your care who might have (or have been diagnosed with) it. Learn about the links between FASD, child understanding and behaviour.

If a child or young person you care for is exploring their sexuality or gender identity, here’s how you can feel informed and comfortable to talk to them about it.

Organisations that provide specialist support and advice relevant to kinship care.

This page explores how to recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma, as well as practical tips for supporting children in kinship care.

Tools and techniques to help the child you care for to learn how to self-soothe and regulate their emotions in a healthy way.

Anxiety is a normal human emotion. But having too much anxiety can cause issues. Here are some practical tips to spot, manage and get support with anxiety.

It’s important to have a plan in place for a health emergency, such as if you become ill, or die. These practical steps will help you to plan for what will happen to the children you care for.

Find out what to do if you are worried about a child's safety or welfare.

Learn about alcohol and substance abuse - how it can affect kinship families and what to do if your loved one is struggling.

Being a kinship carer can be challenging. When a child you care for has a disability or special educational needs, you may need extra support.

Stress is a common experience for kinship carers, who often face unique challenges in caring for children who have been through difficult experiences. Here is how to recognise the signs of stress and some practical tips for managing it effectively.