Kinship Connected

The independent evaluation

We commissioned Stark Consulting in 2018 to evaluate the impact of the Kinship Connected programme on kinship families who we supported from 2018 – 2020, 400 in total across 17 local authority areas across Northeast of England, West Yorkshire and London boroughs.

The evaluation report was published in August 2020 and authored by Louise Starks (Starks Consulting Ltd) and James Whitley (Ecorys).

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 highlights that there is 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)

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 of this – £40,000 saving per child per year, there would be other long-term benefits in terms of reduced homelessness, levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, and better health.

Every 1,000 reduction in the number of children in the looked after system would deliver a number of benefits:

1. 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
2. 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; whilst there would be other long-term benefits in terms of reduced homelessness, levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, and 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)