Recently in kinship care Category

Well that seems to have been the judgement of social workers in Hampshire who chose to put two children into local foster care rather than send them to Yorkshire to live with their aunt. The reason given: the children wouldn't be able to adapt to 'Yorkshire culture'.

According to reports, the children's aunt - who has now secured custody of the boy and girl following a nine-month legal battle - was deemed an appropriate carer by an independent social worker, but this was ignored by Hampshire social services.

The children's aunt reportedly said: "Their social worker decided that the children 'had grown up within the southern region and couldn't adapt to the change in area and culture'. Apparently, speaking with a Southern accent would cause 'difficulties and isolation'."

Although there's bound to be more to the case than meets the eye, the family's lawyer described it as "one of the most bizarre social services decisions I have ever come across".

He added that the case was "an extreme example of the challenges that many kinship carers face". Do you agree? Would you put a child into foster care rather than send them to live with family in a different part of the country? Have your say on CareSpace.

Picture credit: neate photos

Kerry McCarthy MP is keeping the issue of kinship care in the spotlight. Yesterday at a House of Commons debate, McCarthy asked that leave be given to bring in a bill to require the Secretary of State to extend the system of parental responsibility agreements to enable a kinship carer to obtain parental responsibility for a child they are raising without having to bring a case to court.

Definitely an interesting issue we're keeping an eye on for you..

Grandparents providing kinship care do so at "considerable cost" to their health and relationships, according to a study published today.

Just over half (55%) of those providing full-time kinship care said their physical health had worsened, the study commissioned by The Grandparents' Association said, while 70% said their sleep patterns had deteriorated. Forty per cent said their mental health had suffered.

One grandparent/carer said: "Psychologically this has ripped me apart. I don't have a social life and feel my life has stagnated. It's not fair on the child, but equally it's not fair on me. I have grown very resentful."

These issues come on top of the financial difficulties some grandparents have when taking care of their grandchildren.

The study, Grandparents' Voices, is available online from Thursday 30.09.10 at £5.99 to non members and £4.99 to members at www.grandparents-association.org.uk

Does Grandad Know Who I Am? is also launched today, exploring the ways in which the grandparent/grandchild relationship can be affected by dementia, at £3.99 for non members and £2.99 for members. Also available online from Thursday 30.09.10.