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A new study on adoption has called for local authorities to give greater consideration to placing children with other members of their extended family rather than with non-relatives, writes Derren Hayes.

'The Plan for the Child' report by Nigel Lowe and Mervyn Murch of Cardiff Law School says the recent political emphasis on adoption over other forms of care plans may have resulted in social workers not considering the option of placements with other relatives.

It also found that policies on the legal status of kinship-carers among the six local authorities in the study were vague, affecting the level of social services and financial support they received. In some authorities family members were automatically assessed as foster carers for the child, qualifying them for a foster carer’s allowance, while in other areas they were encouraged to apply for a residence order.

The foster carer’s allowance is generally greater than that received by those granted a residence order, and once a residence order is granted, parental responsibility shifts to the carer and social services are no longer required to offer financial support.

‘These factors tended to make a residence order an unattractive option for relatives,’ the report says.

‘The Plan for the Child, adoption or long term fostering’ costs £9.95 from Baaf adoption and fostering. 020 7593 2000.