What support it provides to kinship carers who provide informal care arrangements.

Children in informal kinship care arrangements are not deemed to require formal supervision but may have other support needs. In recognition of those needs, the Kinship Care Order proposed through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill aims to provide additional support, that will offer a more stable environment for children living in kinship families, who do not require regular supervision from the Children’s Hearings System or Social Work.
In financial years 2012-13 and 2013-2014, we are providing funding of £446,109 to Children 1st to deliver the Kinship Care National Training and Outreach Service and £305,700 to Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver a dedicated Kinship Care Advice and Information Service.
We are providing Mentor UK with a two year Strategic Funding Partnership Grant of £175,000 to help break the inter-generational cycle of children becoming looked after and having poorer outcomes. Mentor UK were also funded by the Scottish Government to produce a resource guide for kinship carers. The guide, Kinship Care – children cared for by family and friends, aims to inform kinship carers and help them to have a better understanding of what is involved in taking on the care of a child, it also explains what support they may expect to receive.