Kinship Carers are Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, Siblings, other relatives and or family friends who step in to take care of a child who is unable to live with their parents. Kinship carers provide love and security for children who would otherwise not be cared for within the family.

Kinship care arrangements can sometimes occur at short notice and in challenging circumstances. The arrangement can be short term or permanent based on a decision made by the parents or Social Work.

Kinship families provide emotional security, stability, and a sense of identity. Kinship Care can reduce trauma by enabling children to keep in contact with their families and communities.

Falkirk have a dedicated Kinship Care team who are here to support you with all areas of your caring role. We are a staff group of social workers; a social work assistant and we have a Kinship peer Mentor – himself a Kinship carer with the council. 

Never be nervous about asking for help, whatever your Kinship Family arrangement.

Support Groups for Kinship Carers are held on the last Thursday of each month. These are relaxed groups where carers are welcome to come along for a relaxed chat, if they have any queries, require any information etc. Coffee/tea/biscuits provided.

A Kinship Care Allowance is a regular payment made by Local Authorities to some Kinship Carers. It should be at the same level as the Local Authority’s Fostering Allowance rate, less any family-related benefits the Kinship Carer gets that a foster carer would not receive.

Am I eligible for Kinship Care Allowance? The Scottish government and Local Authorities have agreed that the following Kinship Carers should receive a Kinship Care Allowance:

• Kinship Carers of 'Looked After' children (where the Local Authority has care of the child);
• Kinship Carers who have a Kinship Care Order under Section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or are the child’s guardian under Section 7 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 where:
  1. the child was previously ‘Looked After’, or
  2. the Local Authority was involved in the placement of the child with you, or
  3. the child is ‘at risk’ of becoming ‘Looked After’.

The Scottish Government has information about the payment of Kinship Care Allowance. Our partners CPAG, (the Child Poverty Action Group), have a factsheet containing an excellent guide about Kinship Allowances.