KINSHIP CARE
Are social workers worried about your child's safety? Do you need help from the local authority to look after your child? Do you have a child in care? Are you raising a relative's child? We recommend the Family Rights Group's helpline: freephone 0808 801 0366 www.frg.org.uk
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"When my daughter was taken to prison I was terrified of having to look after her kids. I didn't think I'd be able to cope but in many ways it's been really rewarding having them until they can go back to their mum."
"I've been looking after my granddaughter since she was two. She's thirteen now, a very angry child and starting to get into trouble at school. Her father's always been an unstable presence in her life, in and out of prison. I need help to support her through this."
What is "kinship care"?
What is pact doing at HMP Holloway?
The aims of the Kinship Care Support Service
What does pact offer?
Getting in touch
Our funders
Factsheets available to download
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What is 'kinship care'?
The term 'kinship care' describes a type of care and living arrangement for a child who has to live away from his or her parental home, and is cared for full-time by a member of the child's extended family or a friend.
Often, when people who are parents are sent to prison, their children are cared for by a grandparent, older sibling, aunt, or family friend.
What is pact doing at HMP Holloway?
pact is piloting a new Kinship Care Support Service, offering help to families who find themselves in this situation.
Our Kinship Care Support Manager is developing a range of pioneering support, aimed at people who find themselves looking after a relative's children when that person is sent to prison.
The aims of the Kinship Care Support Service
Our aims are as follows:
- to support family members and friends who care for children whose parents are in HMP Holloway
- to help resolve conflicts between the carers and parents of the children
- to help facilitate contact between children and their parents in these prisons
What does pact offer?
The Kinship Care Support Service offers a range of support to carers:
- someone to talk to about any concerns you have as a carer
- help to explore how these concerns could be resolved
- relationship counselling for prisoners and kinship carers. This service is offered in partnership with Marriage Care and is suitable for all manner of family relationships, not just married couples or partners
- links to a wide range of local and national services
Getting in touch
If you would like to find out more about the Kinship Care Support Service and how we can help, please get in touch.
Please contact Cherecee Williams, the Kinship Care Support Service Manager:
cherecee.williams@prisonadvice.org.uk
020 7700 1567
Our funders
We are very grateful to the City Bridge Trust for funding our Kinship Care project.
Factsheets available to download
We at the kinship care project have produced a number of useful factsheets for those involved in looking after children whose parents are in prison. You can download them below.