Care proceedings guide
Can My Child Live With a Grandparent Instead of Foster Care?
Courts and local authorities must consider whether a child can be cared for safely within their family before relying on foster care. If a grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend is willing and able to help, raise this immediately so they can be assessed as a potential carer.
Why family placements are considered first
The law requires the local authority to consider placement with a parent, relative or other connected person before an unrelated foster placement, where this can meet the child's welfare needs safely. Identifying family members early keeps this option realistic.
Relatives do not need to be perfect; they need to be safe, willing and able to meet the child's needs, with support where appropriate.
- Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and close family friends
- Viability assessments and, where appropriate, full fostering assessments
- Special Guardianship Orders for long-term family care
- Child Arrangements Orders placing a child with a relative
The viability assessment
A social worker usually carries out an initial viability assessment, visiting the relative, checking safeguarding records and discussing practical arrangements such as space, finances and support networks.
A positive viability assessment can lead to a fuller kinship or Special Guardianship assessment. Relatives should be open about any past difficulties and show how they would keep the child safe and manage contact with the parents.
What relatives should do
Contact the social worker or the parents' solicitor as soon as possible and ask to be assessed. Delay can narrow the options available to the court, particularly once the case timetable is well advanced.
Relatives may be entitled to separate legal advice about Special Guardianship, Child Arrangements Orders or becoming a party to proceedings, and financial support is sometimes available for kinship carers.
Common questions
Does a family member need to be assessed before a court will consider them?
Yes. A viability assessment, and often a fuller assessment, is normally required before the court can place a child with a relative instead of foster care.
Can a grandparent apply for a Child Arrangements Order instead of fostering?
In some cases, yes. Depending on the evidence and the child's needs, a Child Arrangements Order or Special Guardianship Order may be a more suitable long-term outcome than fostering.