What is Sibling Kinship Care?
Sibling kinship care is when an older sibling steps in to care for younger dependent sibling(s) because their parents are unable to. This can happen after traumatic experiences such as bereavement, imprisonment, family breakdown, substance misuse, domestic violence, abuse and neglect. These arrangements can be made privately within families or formally with the oversight of social services and the courts which can include Special Guardianship Orders, Child Arrangement Orders, Kinship Foster Care, Private Foster Care and Adoption.
Sibling kinship care forms the second largest kinship group, following grandparents. In 2001 over 173,200 children were living in kinship care across the United Kingdom, and around 38% of these were with siblings. Out of all sibling kinship care, over 95% were informally arranged outside of the care system and entitled only to means-tested welfare, if eligible. Around 1 in 5 sibling kinship carers are under the age of 25 years old - these statistics are likely much higher today as more children enter the care system and the need for foster placements continue to grow.
Common Challenges:
Parenting Capacity
Many sibling carers take on this role while still young themselves, often with little or no parenting experience. Majority of sibling kinship families experience family conflict and when parents are still alive, some can unite themselves against their parents and external family. Some sibling carers also feel dismissed by professionals, particularly because services are often designed with grandparents or older kinship carers in mind. As a result, younger carers may not always be taken seriously or receive the support they need.
Shared Grief & Trauma
Sibling kinship care often begins in the context of loss, abuse, or family conflict. Many carers and children are coping with shared grief, trauma, and uncertainty. These experiences can affect mental health and make caring even more challenging.
Despite this, sibling carers often show remarkable strength and commitment to keeping their family together.
Poverty
Many sibling carers reduce or give up education and work in order to care for their sibling. This can leave them with very limited income and make them heavily reliant on welfare benefits.
Families in sibling kinship care are also more likely to live in deprived areas and inadequate housing. Navigating the benefits system and accessing support can be confusing, especially when carers feel embarrassed, misunderstood, or unsure of their entitlements.
Barriers to Support
Most sibling kinship care arrangements are informal and not made through social services. This means many carers do not qualify for the financial support available to approved foster carers.
To become an approved foster carer, a sibling carer must usually go through a detailed assessment process, including checks on their background, health, and finances. Because many sibling carers step in during crisis, they may not be in a position to complete this process successfully at the time they take on caring responsibilities.
Even when help is needed, some sibling carers are reluctant to ask for support for fear of being judged as unsuitable. Sadly, this can leave them feeling isolated at the very time they need help most.
Why this matters
Sibling kinship carers make extraordinary sacrifices to protect and care for their younger brothers and sisters. They deserve recognition, understanding, and practical support so they can continue providing safety, stability and nurture.