Kinship care is when a child is living somewhere other than the parental home.
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 or an informal kinship care arrangement. Kinship care arrangements can be time limited or long 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 we place a child with a relative or family friend and the child is subject to a legal order which makes them 'looked after'.
The relevant legislation is detailed under Section 17 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
If we have placed a looked after child with you, the child’s social worker will have discussed the kinship care scheme with you and will progress this on your behalf.
Informal kinship care
There are also informal kinship care arrangements where we have not been involved in making the placement. Such arrangements can only be recognised as 'informal' following an assessment by the local authority the carer resides in
Where the arrangement has been classed as an informal kinship care arrangement, the child is not classified as a looked after child.
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
Our team is responsible for the assessment of kinship carers.
We also provide support, advice, guidance and training (as required) to kinship carers.
We work in partnership with locality teams to ensure the child’s plan is being met and outcomes improved.
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).
| Age Band | Weekly Amount (this amount will be minus any child related benefits in place for the child) |
| 0 to 4 years | £142.82 |
| 5 to 10 years | £162.69 |
| 11 to 15 years | £202.51 |
| 16 plus (ceasing at 18 years) | £246.33 |
North Lanarkshire Kinship Care Procedures
This guidance outlines the procedures and processes to be followed, by workers, when assessing both formal and informal kinship carers.
It also outlines the process for approval of a kinship care placement through the kinship care multi-agency approval panel.
Contact us
Kinship Care Team
Children’s Carers’ Centre
Mitchell Street
Airdrie
ML6 0EB
kinshipcare@northlan.gov.uk
01236 856321