We are improving our site by involving residents.
Help us continue to improve by giving your feedback
Special guardianship is a way of providing parental responsibility for a child. Unlike adoption, the parents are still legally the child's parents but their parental responsibility is minimal.
A special guardian will have responsibility for all day-to-day decisions about care, upbringing and education for the child or young person without needing to consult the birth parents.
Birth parents and local authorities cannot apply for a special guardianship order.
To apply to be a special guardian you must be aged 18 or older and any of the following:
You do not need to be married to be a special guardian.
Sometimes a special guardianship order may be made on a child following care proceedings. In these circumstances, there may be financial support agreed for the special guardian in the support plan, which will be reviewed annually.
You may not qualify for financial support or access to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) if the order is made through private law proceedings by anyone in the preceding list of eligible applicants.
We recognise that while being a special guardian is a rewarding role it can also be a challenging one at times. We appreciate your role and understand that special guardian's require support and understanding
We want to support you in the most effective way and we will work alongside you to create a package of support that works for your family. We aim to provide resources and support based on what you and the child needs.
You can contact us for support and advice at any point whilst the special guardianship Order is active.
A range of support services are provided to our special guardians.
Monthly support groups
Join our monthly support groups where experienced facilitators guide discussions on crucial topics such as finance, contact issues and housing. Connect with fellow Special Guardians and share experiences.
Flexible walk-in sessions
For those unable to attend support groups, we offer convenient walk-in sessions where you can discuss your concerns, seek advice, and receive support.
Dedicated phone line and email inbox
Feel free to reach out anytime through our dedicated duty phone line and email inbox. Our team is ready to provide guidance.
Financial assistance
Navigate the financial aspects of special guardianship with our assistance in processing adoption and special guardianship support fund applications.
Other Assistance
Beyond financial support, we extend our help to assist with housing, passport, and benefits applications.
Special guardians have access to e-learning packages available to Croydon Foster Carers and we are developing other relevant training for special guardians.
Topics include:
View the full training catalogue.
Email postordersupportteam@croydon.gov.uk to request a free (renewable) six month licence.
In the event of a court process to discharge the special guardianship order, our team is here to support you. We provide guidance, resources, and assistance.
The ASGSF was established to fund therapeutic interventions for children and young people who have been adopted or are being cared for under special guardianship orders.
If the child that you are caring for was looked after (in care) prior to the special guardianship order being made, then they are entitled to the funding.
The ASGSF is available for children and young people up to and including the age of 21, or 25 if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan.
The ASGSF will fund £2,500 for specialist assessments to explore the child’s trauma and attachment needs. The assessment will lead to a therapeutic plan for your family. The assessments are carried out by qualified clinicians and must be detailed and focused on trauma and attachment.
If you have a question about special guardianship, you can contact us by email postordersupportteam@croydon.gov.uk or by phone on our duty line: 0300 222 5756.
NEW Help improve this site by giving feedback Show Hide
Send feedback directly to the content team using our website feedback form
You can also join our user research group to receive invites to activities and surveys to help shape future improvements to the site.