Special guardianship

We have created Guardians’ Guide, a dedicated, free website full of practical guides and expert support for special guardians and anyone who wants to be one.

The Guardians’ Guide includes clear information on how you can become a special guardian, what it means for you and the children under your care, and guidance about a range of topics for carers with a special guardianship order.

A special guardian is someone with long-term, legal responsibility for a child they already have a relationship with. It's an important, often rewarding role that provides a stable home life for a child to grow and develop.

A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) can be granted by the Family Court if it’s believed to be the best option for a child when they are not able to live with their birth parents, but adoption or fostering isn't quite right.

If you are granted a special guardianship order, the child will permanently live with you.

You will have parental responsibility until the child is 18 years old. As a special guardian, you are responsible for making all day-to-day decisions about the child’s care.

View the ‘Becoming a guardian’ section of the Guardians’ Guide website for more information on the role, considerations and the application process.

If you already have the child of a friend or relative living with you, but do not yet have a SGO, you are likely to be what is known as a ‘kinship carer’.

The charity Kinship provides advice and support for people looking after someone else's child. You may also find our information pages on private fostering useful.

Buckinghamshire Council offers dedicated support services to special guardians, children living under guardianship and their families.

You can contact the team on 01494 586 626 or [email protected] to learn more and access support.

Available services include:

• phone advice and support service with the team
• practical support with a wide range of topics from education and health, to money and behaviour
• reviews of contact with family arrangements (family-time)
• training courses on new skills
• local and national peer support groups and meetups for special guardians, children living under guardianship and parents
• access to therapeutic support for children and young people

The Guardians’ Guide contains the latest information about support services as well as lots of self-help guides and advice.