Kinship care report shows that carers have been left struggling without the support and advice they need to keep their families together.
Every year Grandparents Plus put together a survey for kinship carers to build a clearer picture of the reality and experiences of kinship care across the country. This year the survey focused on the impact of becoming a kinship carer on individual identity as well as the impact Covid-19 has had on kinship families.
Yesterday we attended the virtual launch of the latest annual report from Grandparents Plus, State of the Nation 2020. The report is based on analysis of survey responses from 561 kinship carers.
The aim of the yearly reports is to help Grandparents Plus develop services to better support kinship carers as well as raise awareness of kinship care in the media and among decision makers like local authorities and the national government.
Key findings:
Demongraphics
- 90% of respondents were aged 45-74 and 79% were grandparents.
- There is an underrepresentation of BAME communities.
Reasons for being a kinship carer
- 46% neglect
- 45% parental drug or alcohol misuse
- 30% parents unable to cope
- 24% domestic abuse
Stability and love are nessecities for all children, especially those exposed to traumatic experiences, as the figures above show are a often a prerequisite for kinship kids. This is exactly what kinship carers provide. 92% of carers see themselves as the child's perminant carer and 97% of carers believed the children had settled well into their family. This demonstrates how invaluable kinship care is in providing children who have had a challenging start (to put it mildly) in giving them the best possible foundations to build the rest of their life upon. Children need to be able to understand their backgrounds, they need to belong and have a sense of identity. This is something that kinship care can provide. 89% of carers felt able to talk to their kinship kids about the situation although many did find this challenging. 81% of respondents said the children were having contact with their parents which is often very difficult to manage for the kinship carers. Highlighting the commitment of kinship carers in putting the needs of the child/ children in front of their own.
Being a kinship carer is life changing! We have seen that from the local kinship stories we have shared of Jane and of Frank and LIz. This report confirms that many carers lose their own identify as they take on the role of a kinship carer. 82% of carers reported missing things about their previous lives. This includes careers, friendships, hobbies, having time for themselves as well as the loss of relationships such as losing the grandparent relationship with the child and suddenly taking on a parental role.
70% of carers said they struggled during the pandemic and 51% felt the pandemic had negatively impacted the kinship kids. With 24% stating they were not sure they would cope in another lockdown. This is obviously concerning as stricter measures have come in to force locally already.
It is clear from the report and from engagement with local kinship carers that they make significant sacrifices to provide societies most vulnerable children with permanent loving homes. Kinship carers, who want to do their part, must have the support they need when they need it, to ensure the longer-term benefits we know kinship care offers.
Grandparents Plus have provided some recommendations and are calling for all kinship carers to be adequately supported by local authorities.
You can read the full report and connect with Grandparents Plus. If you are a kinship carer you can check out our Kinship Care page or contact the Grandparents Plus team for information and advice. If you are a professional working alongside kinship carers sign up to the professionals network to hear about the latest research and best practice, and to hear about our events.
