How do I become the Child's Legal Guardian?
Many kinship carers apply for a legal order. You can apply for:
- A Special Guardianship Order (SGO), or
- Child Arrangements Order (CAO).
Both these legal orders give you parental responsibility.
For Children in our Care:
We will invite you on our Ready to Go SGO training course. Our training course will tell you what to expect.
We will already have lots of information on file. A social worker will need to write updated reports.
We will help you with your application and we pay the court fees. We will also pay for you to get legal advice from a solicitor.
Private Application:
Where the child is not 'looked after' this is a private application. You will need to make your own application to court. You must give the council 3 months’ notice before applying.
A social worker will visit you at home. They will need to interview you and check the home is safe. They will write a report for the court.
Court Report
Our report will comment on:
- How well you have been caring for the child.
- How well you can care for the child in the future.
We will also write a support plan that tells you:
- What support you and the child might need now.
- What support you and the child might need in the future.
- What support our team can offer you.
Family Court
The report is sent to a Family Court Judge. The Judge will read all the reports and decide whether to grant the order. You will be invited to attend the family court and meet the Judge.