Family Rights Group | Kinship carers’ Forum

Hi everyone.

Il cut a very long story short.

We failed the viability assesment for our nephew, however that was due to something silly a very long time ago on my husbands part.

Even though we failed the viability assesment the local authority are still positive in regards to our nephew staying with us. They are hoping for us to be able to continue to foster him in an unregulated placement.

My question is, once we have been to court and the LA have an interim care order. Even though we are unregulated, will we receive any financial help?

Our nephew has already been with us 5 months and we have not received a penny yet.

Thank you for you help.

Dear MrsB

Thank you for your question.

There is no short answer to it without knowing a good deal more about the background.

You say that the placement is unregulated and that the local authority are content with your nephew’s current status. The decision to continue with the unregulated placement must have been made by a senior individual at the local authority and if the plan is that when the local authority acquires parental responsibility through an interim care order you could ask to be assessed again by an independent social worker (the court will have to approve this) they then may begin paying you.

Our advice sheet about Care (and related) proceedings may be useful to you.

If you would like to speak with one of our advisers to outline more of your back story do call us on our confidential helpline on 0808 801 0366. It would be interesting to know a little more of the background to your current situation such as how your nephew came into your care, was he placed with you by the local authority or was the placement something you and the parents agreed? I would ask too whether you have considered applying for a Child Arrangements Order.

Best wishes

Suzie