If you are a special guardian, we can assess your family’s needs and offer support. Find out what support is available and how to access it.
Who can get support?
We may offer support to:
- special guardians
- families with a child arrangements order
- families with an informal arrangement (no legal order)
How we assess your needs
We will assess your support needs if:
- the child was looked after by Portsmouth City Council before the SGO was made
You can also ask us to assess your needs if the child was not previously in our care.
After the assessment, we will create a support plan. This explains the help we can offer to you, the child, or birth family members.
If you disagree with the support offered, you can tell us your concerns. We will review this before making a final decision.
Financial support
A social worker will assess your circumstances to decide if financial support is available.
If agreed, this will be reviewed each year.
Special guardian allowance (SGA)
You may be able to get a special guardian allowance.
- This is discretionary, which means payments are not guaranteed
- The amount depends on your financial situation and the child’s needs
Support after age 18
Special guardian allowance usually ends when the child turns 18.
It may continue if the young person stays in full-time education.
To request continued payments, you will need to provide evidence from the school or college confirming:
- the young person’s name and date of birth
- the course they are studying
- when the course ends
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF)
We may apply for funding for therapeutic support for eligible children and families.
We will consider this as part of your assessment.
You can find out more on GOV.UK.
Education support
Support may be available through the virtual school.
A staff member at your child’s school can work with the virtual school to help you access support.
Support for care leavers
If the young person was previously in care, they may be able to get support from our leaving care team.
Training and advice
You can contact the special guardianship support team to:
- get advice about your role
- access training courses (online and in person)
Our kinship charter
Our kinship charter sets out how we support kinship carers in Portsmouth.
It explains our commitment to working with you and supporting your family.
Contact us
To request support or ask for an assessment:
- Call the team on 023 9283 4071
- Email connectedpersonsduty@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
With your consent, a family member or professional can also contact us on your behalf.