7th October 2025
This week, we will be shining a spotlight on the extraordinary role of kinship foster carers and celebrating their success in keeping families and communities together through local stories and events.
Kinship carers come from all walks of life. They are grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, family friends and even teachers − who provide fulltime care to children who cannot live at home because of child protection concerns.
Kinship foster care can be deeply rewarding. Many carers describe the joy of providing their loved one with safety, love and stability at a time when they need it most, and reassuring the child that they will stay connected to their family during this difficult time of their lives.
“It takes a village to raise a child, but what happens when there is no village?”. We are committed to exploring kinship foster care options first, when a child needs to be moved from their parent’s care. However, when there are no suitable kinship care options, the child will be placed with HSC NI Foster Carers who open up their hearts and homes; volunteering to temporarily care for the child while their parents receive the care and support that they need.
Emma*, a Kinship Foster Carer, has been caring for her two-year-old nephew since February. She says it’s been hard, messy, and overwhelming.
She also says it’s been deeply rewarding. Emma describes the joy of providing her nephew with safety, love and stability at a time when he needed it most, adding, “I wouldn’t have it any other way”.
First, let us acknowledge that kinship foster care can be one of the hardest callings we know. Because you are not just stepping in to care for a child – you are stepping into complicated family dynamics. For some carers this means carrying the weight of protecting a child, while also carrying the pain of watching someone you love not able to parent or protect. That can feel like a double grief in such a short period of time. And it is not talked about enough.
Kinship care can be messy. You may face immediate hurdles such as loss and bereavement, issues with drugs or alcohol, or child abuse, as well as the challenges which may arise later in your kinship care journey. Holidays may change. Family gatherings may shift. Everyone may have an opinion about what you should do, how you should feel, and how long this should last. And on top of that you may be navigating social services, court dates, and all the challenges of caring for a child while trying to keep your own heart together.
We want to say this to every kinship carer in the Southern Trust: what you are doing matters. Even when it feels invisible. Even when it feels thankless. Even when the stress eats you alive. You are giving a child safety. You are giving them love. You are giving them stability at a time when they need it most by keeping them connected to their family and their community.
Our advice, find safe people who get it. You are not alone. There are more kinship families than you realise, but so many feel isolated because they feel like they cannot talk about it. Attend your local kinship care support group. And give yourself permission to grieve the loss of “normal” family life. Because nothing about formal kinship care feels normal.
HSC NI Foster Care needs more fostering households to meet the demand in the Southern Area. If you are thinking of fostering, please get in touch.
0800 0720 137