CPFT becomes first NHS Trust in the country to get gold award for supporting kinship colleagues
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS organisation in the country to have been given a prestigious award.
CPFT – which employs more than 4,700 people – has been named as a gold standard employer by the national charity, Kinship.
Kinship was set up to support those who raise a child when their parents are not able to.
The charity describes kinship carers as usually relatives or stepparents, stepbrothers or stepsisters, or someone who isn’t related but knows the child well.
In England and Wales, it is thought there are more than 141,000 young people in kinship care.
To support staff who work for CPFT who are kinship carers, the Trust linked up with the charity.
Since then, the Trust has made number of key changes to its policies and procedures which will recognise the importance of kinship carers and ensure they get the same provision as those who are adopting around pay and leave.
Staff members who oversaw the changes all had their own highly personal experiences of kinship care.
Victoria McCarthy, service manager with the Trust’s Primary Care Mental Health Service (pictured above, right), said: “We are all delighted that the kinship carers at our Trust have been formally recognised, and that CPFT is the first NHS Trust in the country to have been given the gold accreditation.
“Ensuring that kinship carers have the same provision as colleagues who are adopting is a clear demonstration that the Trust cares for its staff as much as our patients.
“Without that help, staff who become kinship carers may have had to take time away without pay or even leave the Trust to look after a child now in their care. These changes will mean we can support them and retain them.”
Colleague Emma Raynor from the Individual Placement and Support Team, which helps those who have had mental health issues back into employment (pictured above, left), said: “It is fantastic that CPFT is leading the way in this area.
“Decisions around becoming a kinship carer can often be emotional and extremely complex, so it heartening to know that staff will no longer have to factor in any initial financial implications into such difficult decision-making processes.”
Kinship's co-director of policy and communications, Rhiannon Clapperton, said: “We're thrilled that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has become the first NHS Trust in England to be recognised as a gold-standard kinship-friendly employer, providing vital recognition and practical support to all those kinship carers employed by the Trust.
"When employers introduce policies to support kinship carers in the workforce, it enables them to remain in work, protecting their incomes and career prospects.
“We are proud of kinship carers who are playing vital roles within the NHS and encourage other NHS Trusts to follow Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust's lead by signing up to our free Kinship Friendly Employer Scheme.”
CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough and learning disability services. The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and in June 2025, CPFT was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Burrows
Deputy Head of Communications
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
E communications@cpft.nhs.uk
