Find out what a child arrangements order is, who can apply and the support available.
What a child arrangements order is
A child arrangements order (CAO) is a court order which decides where a child should live. It used to be called a residence order.
It can also give parental responsibility to the person the court is ordering the child should live with if that person does not already have parental responsibility. This includes kinship carers.
Parental responsibility is shared equally under a CAO with any other person who has parental responsibility.
A CAO may also be used to decide how much time a child should spend with a non-resident parent and when this time should be.
Who can apply
You need to apply to the family court for a CAO.
You can apply for a CAO if:
- you are a kinship carer of child who is not your birth child
- you already have parental responsibility for a child
Kinship carers must get permission from the court before applying.
There are other legal orders available to you under these circumstances and so we recommend seeking legal advice.
Get support
Financial help
Kinship carers who have a CAO should receive financial support from the child's birth parents as they have a responsibility to provide this. This agreement should be made together.
Where it is not possible to make a financial support agreement with the birth parents, kinship carers can apply to the Child Maintenance Service.
Kinship carers may be entitled to Child Benefit and other government benefits. They may also be entitled to a discretionary allowance from a local authority, depending on how the child came to live with them.
Education support
Children who have previously been in the care of a local authority and now live with a carer under a CAO may be entitled to access educational support services, such as Pupil Premium Plus.
They may also be entitled to therapeutic support and funding through the Adoption and Special Guardian Support Fund.
To find out more about accessing this fund, email special.guardianship@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 3576319.
Contact your child's school or The HOPE, Bristol's virtual school, to find out more about education support.
More information and advice
The HOPE also have information about Kinship care and previously looked after children.
You can find out more about CAOs and the support available to kinship carers on the GOV.UK and Kinship websites.