Hi David, sorry I'm late to the party with this one.
When we took our three Grandkids on in early 2022 our social worker was very much pushing us in the direction of fostering them. Due to our personal circumstances at the time (my cancer treatment including major surgery) this was impossible.
If my memory serves me correct we had to write a letter to the local authority declining fostering. The social worker told us there was another way whereby the kids could remain with us. We had to attend court and an interim Child Arrangement Order was granted, allowing us time to apply for a Special Gardianship Order, which we were granted by the court in February 2023.
My wife gave up her full-time employment in May as, in our mid-fifties, looking after the kids and the household (and occasionally me) while working full-time was too much for her.
We receive a weekly means-tested special gardianship allowance from the local authority, together with a monthly Universal Credit payment (in addition to my salary).
I doff my cap to anyone fostering or otherwise caring for others' children, it's not always beer and skittles, but it is highly rewarding.