Extra cash to help with kinship care legal costs

PEOPLE who are seeking permission to become kinship carers are to get extra help with legal costs from the council.

Currently a family member, often a grandparent, has to go to court to get a Kinship Care Order to give them the legal right to look after a child.

Costs of going to court can vary from £2,000 to £5,000 in some cases if the person doesn’t qualify for legal aid.

In cases where the order is being contested the costs can rocket to £10,000. For the last year and a half Glasgow City Council gave £500 towards costs.

It has now decided to treble the support and provide £1,500 for those with ongoing legal cases.

Around 2,000 children in Glasgow are estimated to be looked after by relatives.

Kinship carers receive an allowance per child at the same rate as foster carers of between £137 to £236 depending on the child’s age.

Glasgow City Council said it is preferred if families can be kept together if a parent is not able to look after a child and Kinship Care is a vital part of that.

Councillor Mhairi Hunter, chair of the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP), said: “Kinship Care has been shown to provide considerable benefits for children who can’t be looked after by their birth parents. Keeping families together, when safe to do so, is a key priority for the partnership and the stability Kinship Care offers children can have very positive effects on their development.

“I’m delighted that GCHSCP has been able to offer increased funding to assist relatives with the legal costs involved in applying for orders which, when granted, also entitle carers to additional benefits and other payments to help bring up a child.”

Kinship carers have fought to have the same recognition as foster carers and receive equal financial support.

‘‘ Keeping families together is a key priority