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Chamber and committees

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Kinship care

Kinship care is where a child who cannot be looked after by their parents is looked after by extended family or someone known to them.

The Committee has been looking into the challenges faced by kinship carers. It was particularly keen to understand:

  • what support is available to kinship carers
  • how accessible support for kinship carers is

The Committee has met twice to help develop its understanding.

There was a formal meeting on Kinship care on 24 February 2022 and a formal evidence session with the Minister for Children and Young People on 31 March 2022.

An informal focus group followed this on 21 March 2022.

The Committee held a follow-up session with the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise on 9 November 2023.

Meetings

The inquiry was discussed at the following Committee meetings:

Engagement

An informal focus group was held on 21 March 2022, where kinship carers were able to share their views in confidence.

This note outlines what was discussed by the focus group (122KB, pdf) posted 30 March 2022

Committee report

The Committee published a report on Kinship Care on 21 September 2022.

Read the Committee's report on Kinship Care

The Scottish Government responded to the Committee's report on 23 November 2022.

Scottish Government response to Kinship Carers report (148KB, pdf) posted 23 November 2022

Correspondence

The Committee has sent and received the following correspondence during the inquiry:

Publication of Kinship Care Guidance

Letter from Minister for Children and Young People and Keeping the Promise, 19 March 2024

Kinship Care Update

Follow up to the session on 9 November on kinship care from the Minister for Children Young People and Keeping the Promise

Kinship Care - Child Poverty Action Group Response

Response from the Child Poverty Action Group, 27 October 2023

Kinship Care - The Kinship Care Advice Service Scotland (KCASS).

Letter from the Kinship Care Advice Service Scotland (KCASS)., 25 October 2023

Kinship Care - CELCIS Response

Response from CELCIS, the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, 25 October 2023

Kinship Care - COSLA's Response

COSLA responded to the Committee on 6 October 2023

Kinship Care - Letter to Stakeholders

The Committee wrote to stakeholders seeking their views, 4 October 2023

Kinship Care Letter to COSLA

Letter to COSLA, seeking an update, 4 October 2023

Kinship care, Scottish Government Response

Letter from the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping The Promise, 14 August 2023

Kinship Care COSLA response

Letter from COSLA to the SJSS Convener concerning the recommendations from the Kinship Care report, 13 July 2023

Kinship Care recommendations follow up

Letter from the SJSS Convener to COSLA concerning the recommendations from the Kinship Care report, 22 June 2023

Scottish Government response to Kinship Carers report

Letter from Minister for Children and Young People, 23 November 2022

Follow up to Kinship Care 31 March session

Letter from Minister for Children and Young People, 22 June 2022