Written Question · S3W-06746 · Session 3
Whether it intends to increase allowances to kinship carers to the same level as the allowance given to foster carers who have no relations…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase allowances to kinship carers to the same level as the allowance given to foster carers who have no relationship to the child and, if so, when.
The answer
Getting it rightfor every child in kinship and foster care
- the National Kinship and Foster CareStrategy was published on4 December 2007. Parliamentary question S3W-7325 announcedthe launch of the strategy and a consultation on associated regulations. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
The strategy setsout our proposals for kinship carers. Approved kinship carers of looked after childrenwill be given the same level of support by local authorities, including the paymentof an equivalent level of financial support as that paid to their foster carers.This approach has been agreed with local government as part of the government’sconcordat with COSLA published on 14 November 2007. We anticipate each local authority will begin the processof approval during 2008-09. To support this, the expert reference group establishedby the strategy will recommend an approval process, which local authorities canuse and adapt for their local purposes.
The Scottish Governmentwill fund Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to provide a service for all kinship carerscovering advice, information and support on income, tax and benefits entitlementsand relevant legal issues. We anticipate that this service will be introduced fromspring 2008.
In addition, COSLAhas agreed to recommend to its members that they discuss their approach and criteriafor the payment of discretionary support of kinship carers under the powers localauthorities already have. This will ensure as far as possible that there is consistentlocal advice and approaches to supporting kinship carers.
- the National Kinship and Foster CareStrategy was published on4 December 2007. Parliamentary question S3W-7325 announcedthe launch of the strategy and a consultation on associated regulations. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
The strategy setsout our proposals for kinship carers. Approved kinship carers of looked after childrenwill be given the same level of support by local authorities, including the paymentof an equivalent level of financial support as that paid to their foster carers.This approach has been agreed with local government as part of the government’sconcordat with COSLA published on 14 November 2007. We anticipate each local authority will begin the processof approval during 2008-09. To support this, the expert reference group establishedby the strategy will recommend an approval process, which local authorities canuse and adapt for their local purposes.
The Scottish Governmentwill fund Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to provide a service for all kinship carerscovering advice, information and support on income, tax and benefits entitlementsand relevant legal issues. We anticipate that this service will be introduced fromspring 2008.
In addition, COSLAhas agreed to recommend to its members that they discuss their approach and criteriafor the payment of discretionary support of kinship carers under the powers localauthorities already have. This will ensure as far as possible that there is consistentlocal advice and approaches to supporting kinship carers.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-06746 by reference.