Time off work for kinship carers

One of the big challenges of kinship care is managing work and your new childcare responsibilities.  Know your rights when it comes to needing time off as a kinship carer.

This advice applies to: England and Wales

It can be hard to balance being a kinship carer when you also have a job. As well as looking after the child day-to-day, chances are you will need to attend appointments, visit schools, take your child to health professionals, fill in forms and more.  That’s why it’s a good idea to learn about, and understand, your employment rights. 

As an employee, you have the right to ask your employer for time off work to meet your caring responsibilities. As a kinship carer, in many cases you have the same rights as the child’s parents when asking for time away from your job. 


Support from Kinship

Here at Kinship, we offer a range of free support for all kinship carers, including  workshops, online advice and information, and support groups.

Contact the Kinship advice team to speak to an adviser or book an appointment.

Find services, information and support in your local area using our Kinship Compass, including information about your local children’s services.