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Social services are being urged to consider placing looked-after children with grandparents and other relatives as an alternative to fostering or residential care, following a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Researchers from the children and families research unit at De Montfort University, Leicester, examined 50 kinship care placements, interviewing social workers, young people and carers.

The research shows that "kinship care" is popular both with young people and the relatives and family friends who provide it, and can be more stable and longer lasting than the alternatives. Nearly three out of four carers were over the age of 50 and almost half were grandparents. The carers wanted more financial and social work support.

Many of the young people said they felt safe and secure with their extended family. Other advantages included maintaining links with siblings and friends, keeping hold of their racial and cultural heritage, and not being looked after by strangers.

Disadvantages included financial hardship and lack of access to the help that is available to care leavers. "Kinship care scarcely features in social work training, and in policy terms it is almost invisible," said Bob Broad, co-author of the study. "In our view, there is a strong case for kinship carers being offered the same level of financial and social work support as foster carers."

- Kith and Kin: Kinship Care for Vulnerable Young People from 020 7843 6000