Kinship care questions for AI tool development

Kinship is starting to develop an AI-powered chatbot that, in time, will be available on our website to support kinship carers to access information quickly. We are at the earliest stage of development.  
 
It will take time and careful thinking to make sure we’re able to introduce a useful tool alongside our advice, information resources and other services to support kinship carers to find the information they need quickly. 

As we start on this journey, we want to build in kinship carer experience and the voice of kinship carers from the start. 
What we're asking
We would like to develop a bank of questions that kinship carers might ask of a chatbot. This will help our agency begin to understand the types of questions that a chatbot may receive and therefore the types of replies that will need to be provided. 

If you would like to be involved, please add up to 5 questions below that you might ask relating to your situation as a kinship carer.  

Your questions could cover finances, housing, legal, education, your life as a kinship carer, or anything you are looking for information on to help support you as a kinship carer. It could even be a combination things.  

Please ask these in your own words and don’t worry about grammar or spelling, we’re interested in the content – what you want to ask now or may have asked/wanted to ask in the past in your role as a kinship carer. Don’t worry about the length of your question.  
Example questions
  • We’re really struggling to make ends meet. My universal credit isn’t enough, and I’m worried I can’t provide for the children much longer. Can I get help with living costs like food and clothes?
  • He just won’t do what he’s told after seeing his dad and he lashes out and doesn’t listen. Who can I talk to about this and can I change the contact arrangements? 
  • I’m due in court next month for a care order hearing and I’m totally overwhelmed. What will happen in court and who can help me understand or support me in court? 
  • I’m being told I need parental responsibility to get on the housing register. What does this mean and will I get proper housing for us if I get this? 
  • Desperately trying to seek support regarding a potential kinship I find myself in. Sister-in-law has severe mental health and addiction issues, she refuses to get help. Brother has had an emotional breakdown as a result and is in hospital. I have grave doubts whether he will ever recover enough to parent their children (10 and 7). The children are temporarily staying with grandparents but they are elderly and have health issues. There is no way the children can be cared for by them long term so the children need to come to us. There is no way those children will go into care. How and where do I go to start exploring this option? How can I get advice on all the implications of taking on someone else's children?? I have no clue where to start. 
Please bear in mind that your questions will be shared with our agency, so don’t add in any identifying information like names, addresses or other personal details.  

For any questions on completing this form please contact Louis Collenette by email at Louis.Collenette@kinship.org.uk. Please complete the form by Monday 30 June. 
Your questions






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Other support:
If you need advice on issues you’re facing now, please visit www.kinship.org.uk/advice or contact our advice line free on 0300 123 7015. Our phone line is open from Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 2pm. 

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