Speaking at an event at the Labour Party conference Sam Smethers, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, criticised local authorities for not following statutory guidelines that require extended families and close friends to be considered first during care proceedings.
She said children can often benefit from staying with extended family members, but voiced concern that the current system does not place enough importance on this.
Clare Tickell, chief executive of Action for Children, urged children's centres across the country to do more to attract grandparents and other extended family members.
She said: "It is a huge missed opportunity if we don't think about what existing resources are there before taking children into care.
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