Special Guardianship

A special guardianship is when a child or young person is placed by the court into the long-term care of someone they know and trust. This could be:

• a grandparent
• a relative
• a former foster carer
• a close family friend

The arrangement is made through a Special Guardianship Order (SGO), which gives the special guardian parental responsibility. This allows them to make both everyday and more important decisions about the child’s life.

Unlike adoption, the child’s birth parents must still be consulted on major decisions, such as changing the child’s name, moving abroad, or agreeing to adoption.

The child usually lives with their special guardian until adulthood, in a safe and stable home.

You can apply for a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) if:

• you are a local authority foster carer and the child has lived with you for at least one year
• the child has lived with you for three of the last five years (and the child has not stopped living with you more than three months before the application)
• you are the child's legal guardian (you do not need to be related to the child)
• you have the consent of those who have parental responsibility for the child
• you have the consent of the local authority if the child is looked after
• you hold a Child Arrangements Order or a Live With Order with consent from the person named in the order
• you have permission from the court to make the application

To apply, you must be over 18 and not the child’s birth parent. You can apply on your own or jointly with others, joint applicants don’t need to be married.

Depending on your situation, there are different routes to apply:

The assessment process is designed to ensure that Special Guardianship is the right option for both you and the child. It includes:

• home visits to understand your living situation and relationship with the child
• background checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for you and anyone aged 16+ in your household
• interviews to explore your ability to meet the child’s needs long-term
• references from people who know you well.

The assessment is carried out by the Kinship Care Team, and their report will be submitted to the court to help inform the final decision.

After you’re granted a Special Guardianship Order, you may be eligible for financial support, depending on your income and situation.

Other post order support is provided by Adopt London West, and what you’re entitled to may depend on whether the child was previously looked after by the local authority.

Support may include:

• therapeutic support via PAC-UK
• a support needs assessment
• access to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
• clinical psychologist consultations
• educational seminars and parenting workshops
• virtual training on trauma and attachment
• peer support groups and coffee mornings
• life story work guidance
• membership with Kinship, the UK’s leading kinship care charity

You can contact Adopt London West or the Kinship Care Team to learn more.

Support for children

Life Story Work

To support children and young people in understanding their personal history and journey to living with a Special Guardian, Life Story Work can be a powerful tool.

It may include:

• baby books and photograph albums
• stories from early childhood onward
• memories, conversations, and special belongings
• photos and drawings.

These elements are often brought together in a life story book, a personal and visual record of the people, places, and events that matter most.

This helps children explore who they are, what they’ve experienced, and why certain things have happened, supporting their sense of identity and helping them feel more secure in their family life.

Why is it important?

Children who have been separated from birth families may lose access to important parts of their story, especially if they’ve had multiple moves. Unlike many children who hear stories from parents or look through baby books, they may not have those pieces filled in.

This can leave their understanding of their life feeling confusing or incomplete.

A Life Story Book helps recover lost information, build clarity, and support emotional wellbeing. It gives children:

• a clearer sense of their journey
• help understanding and talking about their feelings
• a stronger sense of self-worth

Children living with Special Guardians may also face challenges with self-esteem or big emotions. Life Story Work can gently open up conversations and help them feel safe, valued, and connected.

As a Special Guardian, you share parental responsibility with the child’s birth parents. However, Special Guardians have overriding parental responsibility, which means you can make most day-to-day decisions.

You’ll still need consent from the parents or the court for:

• taking the child abroad for more than 90 days
• changing the child’s name
• agreeing to life-changing medical treatment
• placing the child for adoption

In some cases, if family time with the parents is not possible or may disrupt the child’s wellbeing, you can make decisions independently to safeguard the child and maintain stability.