Kinship Care Glossary
Additional Needs Plan (ANP)
A plan that helps a child get extra support in school. This could be help with learning, behaviour, feelings or friendships.
Advocacy
Advocacy means having someone who listens to you, helps you share your views and speaks up for you when needed.
Assessment
A process used to understand a child's needs and decide what support may help them.
Birth Parents
A child's mum and dad they were born to.
Care Proceedings
Court proceedings that decide whether a local authority should have legal responsibility for keeping a child safe.
Child Arrangements Order (CAO)
A court order that says where a child will live and who they can spend time with.
Child in Need
A child who may need extra help and support to stay healthy, safe and well.
Children's Services
The council team that works with children, young people and families when support is needed.
Contact
Time spent with family members, such as parents, brothers, sisters or other relatives.
Court Order
A decision made by a judge that must be followed.
Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
A legal document that explains the extra support a child needs at school and from other services.
Family Group Conference (FGC)
A family-led meeting organised by an independent Family Group Conference Coordinator. Family members come together to make a plan for a child. The coordinator helps everyone have their say and supports the family to create a plan.
Family Network
The wider group of family members and friends who can help support a child and their family.
Family Network Meeting (FNM)
A meeting organised by the family with support from a social worker or keyworker. Family members and friends come together to talk about how they can help and support a child. Family Network Meetings are usually less formal than a Family Group Conference and can often be arranged more quickly.
Foster Care
When a child lives with carers who have been approved to look after children who cannot live at home.
Guardian
An adult who has legal responsibility for helping to care for a child.
Informal Kinship Care
When a child lives with a family member or family friend without a court order or involvement from Children's Services.
Kinship Assessment
A check carried out by Children's Services to see if someone can safely care for a child.
Kinship Care
When a child is cared for by a family member or family friend because they cannot live with their parents.
Kinship Carer
A person who looks after a child they are related to, or know well, when the child's parents cannot care for them.
Legal Advice
Help from a qualified legal professional about laws and legal rights.
Local Authority
Another name for the council. They provide services and support for children and families.
Local Offer
Information about the support, services and advice available for children, young people and families.
Mediation
A process where an independent person helps people talk through a problem and try to find an agreement.
Mental Health
How a person thinks, feels and copes with everyday life.
Parental Responsibility
The legal rights and duties involved in caring for a child and making important decisions for them.
Personal Education Plan (PEP)
A plan that helps make sure a looked after child gets the support they need in education.
SEND
SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It describes children and young people who need extra support with learning or development.
SENCo
The Special Educational Needs Coordinator in a school. They help arrange support for children with additional needs.
Social Worker
A professional who helps children and families get the support they need and makes sure children are safe.
Solicitor
A lawyer who gives legal advice and helps people understand legal matters.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
When a child needs extra help with learning, communication, behaviour or development at school.
Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
A court order that allows someone to care for a child until they become an adult while keeping some links to their birth family.
Support Group
A group where people can meet others in similar situations, share experiences and get advice.
Therapeutic Support
Special support that helps children understand and manage difficult feelings, worries or past experiences.
Trauma
A very upsetting, frightening or stressful experience that can affect how a child feels, thinks and behaves.
Virtual School
A service that helps improve the education of children in care and some children who have left care.
Wellbeing
How happy, healthy and safe a person feels in their everyday life.