Health of children in kinship care deteriorated during pandemic, survey finds

Almost two thirds of carers in such arrangements say their children’s physical and mental wellbeing has suffered because of restrictions during the health crisis in 2021. When asked the same question in 2020 the proportion was significantly less, at 51 per cent.

In addition, almost a quarter of kinship carers say support from their council has decreased due to Covid.

• Related news: Young people in kinship care launch lobbying group

• Feature: Special guardianship best practice guidance

Kinship carers’ health has also suffered during the health crisis. Of those surveyed, two thirds are aged between 55 and 85, who are more at risk of poor health, housing issues, isolation and poverty than younger carers. One third of those surveyed say they have support needs of their own.

The findings have been revealed by the charity Kinship ahead of Kinship Care Week (4-10 October).

Of the more than 1,600 carers surveyed, 62 per cent said their children have long-term health needs, up on 46 per cent when asked in 2010.

But just a third of children had received a formal diagnosis. Of this group four in 10 had been diagnosed with anxiety or depression and a similar proportion with behavioural issues and an attachment disorder.

Children in kinship care are three times more likely to have a special educational need, the survey also found.

Kinship points out that children in kinship care arrangements do not have a formal health assessment, unlike young people in foster care arrangements. This is despite 49 per cent of children in kinship arrangements having experienced neglect, 34 per cent having lived with domestic violence and 13 per cent having suffered abuse.

“The children growing up in kinship care will have faced similar childhood traumas as those in foster care or adoption, yet the support to help them cope with their experiences and to thrive in the future is missing,” said Kinship chief executive Lucy Peake.

“Instead, the grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings or family friends who step in to take care of them are faced with huge responsibility with little help.”

Kinship is hosting a webinar on October 6 to discuss the survey results.

👀 Watch: Annual State of the National survey results live!

During #KinshipCareWeek, our CEO, Dr Lucy Peake will reveal the findings from the survey and discuss them live with #kinshipcarers.

Register now to join us!

📍 Wednesday 6 October
⏰ 10-11amhttps://t.co/TdY7UuEK2E

— Kinship (@kinshipcharity) September 29, 2021