As children's social care reforms place greater emphasis on family networks and kinship care, new research from Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) reveals a significant gap: local authorities across the UK cannot consistently identify or report how children in care are being connected with family overseas.

On October 14, CFAB launched Beyond Borders: International Kinship Care in Practice at an event in the House of Lords, bringing together parliamentarians, government officials, local authority representatives, social work professionals, family rights organisations and legal experts to introduce the key findings of our newest research.

The event was hosted by Baroness Fiona Hodgson and included speakers Sir Andrew Mitchell MP, the National Kinship Care Ambassador Dr Jahnine Davis, a foster carer with lived experience of navigating the international kinship care system, and CFAB's CEO Carolyn Housman. Across every contribution, one message remained clear, that family networks must be explored for all children in care, regardless of where those family members live, because a child’s right to family does not stop at national borders.

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What did the reseach find?

Beyond Borders set out to understand how consistently local authorities explore whether children in care have family members overseas who could potentially care for them, how often children are placed with family abroad, and what support is available to children and carers following an overseas placement.

We estimate that more than 30,000 children in the UK care system may have family members overseas who could potentially care for them. Yet our research found that less than 1% of children in care are placed with family overseas.

We also found significant gaps in the information available. More than one in three responding local authorities could not provide a clear answer on whether they had explored overseas family for children in their care. This means we do not have a reliable national picture of how often these family connections are identified, explored or supported.

Without better data, clearer guidance and a stronger understanding of what happens after an overseas placement, it is difficult to know whether children are being given every opportunity to remain connected to family.

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Why does this matter now?

Across the UK, there is growing recognition of the importance of family networks and kinship care. In England, new legislation, updated statutory guidance and the National Kinship Care Standards are strengthening the focus on identifying and supporting family carers. The Law Commission’s review of kinship care also presents an opportunity to consider how legal arrangements can better support children living with relatives.

International kinship care needs to be part of these conversations. Family members should not be overlooked simply because they live overseas, and children and carers need appropriate support when a child moves to another country.

CFAB’s specialist international social work services and free national Advice Line help local authorities and professionals navigate complex cross-border child protection cases and explore safe family-based care options. Through this work, and our engagement with decision-makers, we want to help ensure that international family connections are properly considered in policy and practice.

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From evidence to action: what needs to change?

Beyond Borders sets out six recommendations, organised around three priorities:

1. Make it visible

Improve national data collection and strengthen guidance on exploring family overseas.

2. Make it work

Ensure international placements are legally secure, safe and workable in practice.

3. Make it last

Embed international kinship care into future reform and ensure children and carers receive appropriate support across borders.

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Together, these changes would help build a clearer picture of international kinship care and support more consistent practice, so that children have the opportunity to grow up with family wherever in the world they may live.

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Read Beyond Borders: International Kinship Care in Practice - Summary Report here.

Follow CFAB on social media to hear about the full report, due to be published on 23 October.

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