Advice and information

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.

Find out what support kinship carers should generally expect from their local authority, and the legal duty they have to all children in your area.

Find out about the role of social workers and children's services, and their role in kinship care

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.

Learn more about how to understand and manage challenging behaviour in kinship children you care for.

Information for kinship carers on childcare options for children aged 0-16, including nurseries, pre-schools, childminders and nannies.

Childcare costs can be expensive. As a kinship carer, you may be entitled to financial support to help cover the cost of childcare.

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.

If you are a kinship carer going to court, know how to prepare and what to expect.

If you are unhappy about the way children’s services are working with you, you can make a complaint. This page explains the different steps in making a complaint.

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.

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.

Stepping up to raise a child can incur additional costs, such as paying for a school uniform or school meals. Here’s how to get financial help with school costs.

Find out what help is available to help you cope with rising energy bills.

Find out how you become a kinship carer, and what to expect from the process.