Kinship care

Kinship care

When a child or young person cannot live with their birth parents, the preferred option is for them to live within their wider family and community circle. In its broadest sense this is known as Kinship Care.

Through kinship care, children can experience less disruption in their life, they do better in education, have a stronger sense of identity and more meaningful family time with parents and other family members.

Children and young people can be placed in kinship arrangements at short notice, and this can be done either because of a family arrangement or through the involvement of social work. Either way, you will be asked if you are prepared to offer the child or young person a home. Sometimes these arrangements are short- or longer-term therefore it is important that you consider all options and consider the others who live with you.

Our Kinship Service is managed through our Family Based Care Team.

Carers with the care of a child can also apply directly to the local authority for kinship assistance. The application considers eligibility criteria under Part 13 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, the Kinship Assistance (Scotland) Order 2016 and updated guidance on this (2024).

Kinship care assistance is subject to the following criteria being met and is available to children, and those who care for them in the circumstances detailed below:

Where a person is applying for, or considering applying for, a kinship care order in relation to a child under the age of 16 who was previously looked after or is at risk of becoming looked after; or
Where a person holds a kinship care order in relation to a child under the age of 16 who was previously looked after or is at risk of becoming Looked After;
Where a person is a guardian by virtue of an appointment made under section 7 of the 1995 Act of a child under the age of 16, who was previously looked after, or is at risk of becoming looked after, unless they are also the parent of the child;
Where a child is under the age of 16, and subject to a kinship care order, and they were previously looked after or are at risk of becoming Looked After;
Where a child is at least 16 years of age, and they were subject to a kinship care order immediately before their 16th birthday, and they were previously Looked After or are at risk of becoming Looked After; or
Where a child has a guardian by virtue of an appointment made under section 7 of the 1995 Act, and they were previously Looked After or are at risk of becoming Looked After.

Children who are placed in informal care arrangements should receive all the practical and emotional support of GIRFEC principles. It is the role of our Family Based Care Team to ensure there is no barrier to support.

The kinship assistance application will include a basic disclosure check for all adults in the household over 16 years of age and a self-assessment medical will
also be requested from the applicants. The applicant is required to provide a copy of the Kinship Care Order if this is already granted. The allocated worker will visit to gather background information and establish eligibility.

The application process will determine the nature, level and type of support that can be offered. In accordance with good practice applicant will be notified of the outcome 4 weeks from application.

The current kinship weekly care allowances are as follows:

Age band	Weekly allowance
0-4 years	£168.31
5-10 years	£195.81
11-15 years	£203.29
16 years and over	£268.41

If you are a kinship carer for a child or young person who is not looked after then you will be able to claim child-related benefits which are then deducted from the above allowance.

The Scottish Child Payment is a new benefit introduced by the Scottish Government to for families in receipt of reserved benefits. The payment will pay £25 per week per child every four weeks.

We will arrange an appointment with our Welfare Rights Team for you to ensure that you are receiving all the support that you entitled to.