Inside Kinship Care: Understanding Family Dynamics and Providing Effective Support

David Pitcher

oct 2013 · Jessica Kingsley Publishers

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Kinship care – the care of children by grandparents, other relatives or friends – is a major part of foster care, yet there are distinct issues that arise in care involving family rather than 'stranger' foster carers.

This book takes an in-depth look at what goes on 'inside' kinship care. It explores the dynamics and relationships between family members that are involved in kinship care, including mothers, grandparents, siblings and the wider family. Chapters also discuss issues such as safeguarding, assessment, therapy, encouraging permanence, placement breakdown, support groups, and cultural issues. The final part of the book looks at kinship care from an international perspective, with examples from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the United States.

Drawing on a range of theoretical perspectives and with contributions from different branches of kinship care, this book provides an invaluable overview of the issues involved and how to provide effective support. It will be essential reading for all those working in the kinship care field, including social workers, therapists, counsellors, psychologists and family lawyers.

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Previously Professor of Children and Families Research, and Director of the Children and Families Research Centre at De Montfort University, Bob Broad is a qualified teacher and social worker. He became a researcher following a lectureship on Social Work Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has undertaken, published and managed research in the fields of foster care, children leaving pubic care, kinship care, grandparenting and participation.