Support for kinship carers
We know how important kinship carers are in providing children with a safe, loving and stable home. We're committed to supporting you throughout your journey with practical help, advice and services, so you can feel confident in your role.
Our Rochdale
A central hub of information on health, social care, childcare, and family services across our borough.
Rochdale’s parenting and family relationship programmes
Practical, evidence-based strategies to support you address child behaviour, parent confidence, parent–child relationships and family relationships.
Living Well Rochdale
This provides support to help improve your health and wellbeing, such as stopping smoking, weight management, increasing physical activity and managing long-term health conditions.
Kinship Compass
This free online tool, delivered by the Kinship Charity, will help you to find local support groups, training, and advice services tailored to your postcode. It covers topics such as managing family time, education, and financial planning.
Legal Advice
Gain access to trusted organisations such as Family Rights Group and Coram Children’s Legal Centre for guidance on court orders, parental responsibility, and care proceedings.
Education
Rochdale Virtual School provides advice and guidance on educational progress and works closely with schools to ensure appropriate support is in place.
Schools can also access Rochdale Additional Needs Service (RANS) for specialist advice on supporting behaviour and meeting individual needs in the classroom.
Emotional and therapeutic support
We understand kinship care can be both rewarding and challenging and emotional and wellbeing support is available for both our children and carers. This includes:
- Counselling and therapeutic services from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and #THRIVE.
- Free training on trauma-informed care, attachment, and managing challenging behaviour.
- Rochdale’s monthly in-person Kinship Care Support Group (in person). It takes places on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 10am-12pm. Contact KinshipCare@rochdale.gov.uk for details of the venue.