Kinship Local Offer
Our Kinship Local Offer sets out how we will help kinship carers, to give children and young people the best possible family experience whatever the child’s legal status, needs and circumstances.
Support with legal issues and housing
Legal support
Some kinship carers can receive two free independent advice sessions with a legal expert. The maximum amount is £500 for each session.
Where we consider it necessary, we will assist with the foster carer’s legal expenses to apply for a special guardianship order (SGO) at rates agreed in advance. For more information you can email us on sgoconnectedpersons@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 1762
Coram Children’s Legal Centre offers free, independent legal advice and factsheets to parents and carers. You can visit the Coram Child Law Advice website or call them on phone: 020 7520 0300
The Family Rights Group offer help and advice if your kinship child is involved with or requires children’s social care services. You can call them on 0808 801 0366. An interpreter can be arranged if needed.
Housing
Our Southwark special guardianship and connected carers team works with landlords to ensure that, whenever possible, kinship carers who are living in social housing are given appropriate priority to move to more suitable accommodation, if this will prevent the need for a child to come into care. For more information you can email us on sgoconnectedpersons@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 1762