20 March 2010
This information applies to Scotland
Thousands of people care for children because their natural (birth) parents are unable to do so. These are often grandparents, aunts and uncles but can also be family friends.
People who look after children in these kinds of circumstances are often known as “kinship carers”. Depending on your individual circumstances you might find it useful to get some advice about your situation.
You should definitely get advice if you are about to change the legal position the child is in with you or you are about to finalise legal arrangements. This may be particularly important if taking care of the child and receiving an allowance to do so will change rights to other income, such as benefits.
If you are looking after a friend or relative’s child you may find it useful to find out about the legal position both you and the child are in. Sometimes a kinship care arrangement will be short term. You might be giving the natural parents an occasional short break. It might be a temporary arrangement while they get back on their feet after a crisis.
Sometimes it is long term or even permanent. Every situation is different.
The arrangement might be informal, it might involve the social work department, or it may be that a court or a children’s hearing has decided that the child should live with you.
A local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can help you to find out about your legal situation and will explain the consequences of it for you and the child and her/his natural parents. Once that is clear, you can also get advice about your responsibilities as well as your rights. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
Becoming a kinship carer can have a significant impact on your finances. You may need to work fewer hours or even give up a job. You may need to move house, so you have more room. There may be additional expenses such as clothes and toys. You may also need equipment to make sure the child you are looking after is safe in your home.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to financial assistance to help you look after the child. The rules can be complex and the arrangements differ from one part of Scotland to another. Each local authority must have a scheme in place, within the next few years, to pay an allowance to a kinship carer who has been approved to look after the child under certain regulations. Your local CAB can explain in more detail what these regulations are.
Your local CAB can help you find out if you are eligible for any extra money. If you are on a low income, the CAB adviser will be able to tell you if there could be any changes to your benefits and tax credits because you have taken over the care of the child. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
Taking care of a child can be challenging. Your local CAB can help you access different kinds of support that is available in your area. You might want to meet up with other kinship carers to share experiences. You might want to know about training to help you manage particular issues, such as conflict with the natural parents or how to cope with physical or mental health problems.
In an emergency you might need to know who to call or you might want to access crisis counselling.
If you are having particular problems looking after the child because s/he is very upset you can discuss problems of being a carer with ParentLine Scotland.
ParentLine Scotland
Helpline: 0808 800 2222
Website: www.children1st.org.uk
There is a specialist helpline for kinship carers and trained advisers are waiting to take your call.
0844 576 2955.
Calls are charged at 5p per minute from a BT landline.
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