At times, a relative or family friend may have stepped in to care for the child or, at other times, we may have approached a family friend or relative to ask them to care for the child.

Depending on the circumstances of the child, the arrangement of the child residing with a relative or family friend can either be classed as a formal kinship care arrangement, an informal kinship care arrangement or a private family arrangement. Kinship care arrangements can be time-limited or longer-term.

We follow the principles set out in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 in supporting kinship carers, together with Scottish Government's National Guidance on Part 13 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014: Support for Kinship Carers.

Formal kinship care

Formal kinship care is when social work services place a child with a relative or family friend and the child is subject to a legal order which makes them 'looked after'.

A 'looked after' child/young person is one who is subject to a supervision order under Section 83 of the Children Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 or a child/young person who was formally placed under Section 25, Children (Scotland) Act 1995 in the care of a kinship carer by social work services.

The relevant legislation is detailed under Section 17 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Informal kinship care

Kinship care also includes non-looked-after children, who live in an informal kinship care arrangement where social work services were not involved in placing the child. These children may be subject to a Section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 with no social work involvement.

Such arrangements can only be recognised as 'informal' following an assessment by the local authority where the arrangement has been classed as an informal kinship care arrangement.

Criteria for informal kinship care is applied as per Section 71 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Are you a kinship carer?

If you are unsure whether or not you may be a kinship carer, you can email kinshipcare@northlan.gov.uk or write to us at:

Children's Carers Centre
7 Mitchell Street
Airdrie
ML6 0EB

All enquiries received will be responded to in writing.

The Kinship Care Team

We will respond to your enquiry, and provide you with advice.

We are responsible for the assessment of kinship carers.

We provide training and support groups.

We work in partnership with the child’s worker in the locality team.

Current kinship care allowances (as of 1 April 2020) 

We pay the following weekly kinship care allowances, which are on parity with fostering allowances (fostering fees are not part of the parity agreement).