Kinship care information
All across Scotland, thousands of people, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends, care for children because their birth parents are unable to do so.
If you are looking after a child like this – full-time or most of the time – then you are a kinship carer.
The rights and responsibilities of kinship carers can be complicated.
Getting advice is important so you know about your options and feel confident that the decisions you are making are in the best interests of the child.
This column sets out some key facts about kinship care and highlights some of the questions you may need to ask.
There are three main places to go to for more detailed advice: your local CAB, If you can’t get to the CAB, call the Kinship Care helpline on 0808 800 0006; the social work or children’s services department at your local authority. If the child you care for has recently been living in a different local authority, you will normally need to deal with that local authority; ParentLine Scotland on 0800 028 2233.
This helpline is not just for parents. They provide a listening ear and support for kinship carers too.
Kinship carers have the right to ask the local authority what support, both practical and financial, they can provide to ensure that you are able to meet the needs of the child that you are looking after.
You should never feel under pressure to enter into a kinship care arrangement if you are not confident that you will get the right support.
If you are not happy with the way the local authority is dealing with you, can complain.
Legal status of the child: “Looked after” or not “looked after”?
Some children in kinship care are formally “looked after” by the local authority and some are not.
“Looked after” means the local authority has particular duties towards the child, even though they are living with kinship carer. The child’s parents retain parental rights and responsibilities
Not “looked after” means the local authority has a duty to look out for the interests of the child, but this is the same duty they have towards all children in their area.
Rights and roles when the child is “looked after”
The child should be safe, have a child’s plan overseen by the local authority, which should detail who is responsible for their every day care, and have access to education including additional support if required.
The kinship carer should be supported throughout the process by the local authority, help write the child’s plan and be willing to work with social work to deliver the plan, be fully informed of their entitlement to practical and financial help, and be fully informed of their options at every stage.
The local authority should make sure the child’s plan is being delivered, assess, supervise and support the child, the carers and the family, provide kinship care allowance, inform kinship carers of their rights and options, but not place them under undue pressure.
If you would like any further information call into our office in the bus station.
Opening times are Monday, Tuesday and Friday open sessions (drop –in) 9.30am – 4pm, Wednesday telephone service 10am – 1pm, Wednesday appointments 10am – 1pm (general no debt or benefit appointments.
Thursday by appointment only 9.30am – 4pm, evening 5pm – 8pm (appointment only money & benefit advice) and Saturday morning 10am – 12.00pm (appointment only benefit advice).