Heather
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21-Oct-2014 -
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Transcript of Heather
The Pilot Project
A guide and resource booklet for Kinship Carers
A step by step guide which informs Kinship Carers of their role in becoming a kinship Carer
Describes the role of the social worker and their required involvement in the case
A detailed list of financial and legal entitlements and supporting networks available for Kinship Carers
Available as an online resource and contained within a pack that can be
easily updated
“They make you feel so stupid and so sometimes I just agreed to what they were saying in order to get the meeting over and done with.”
“I just felt so lost, I didn’t know where or who to turn to until I found out about kinship carer support groups.”
Why?
Achieving Our Aims Common understanding and respect between Kinship Carers
and Social workers in each of the roles that they play
Kinship Carers will feel confident in looking after children as they aware of their role and know they will be
supported
Better support for Kinship Carers from professionals and support groups
More awareness of the role of kinship carers across
Scotland
The ProcessContact made with all local authorities to
assess interest
Contact with kinship carers
maintained
Form links with members of
Scottish Government
Contact academics
whose focus is kinship care
Source representative
s from the financial sector
Source representative
s from the legal sector
Identify support
agencies who work with
kinship carers
Liaise with all
agencies to assess
their views of the pilot
Design of the Resource Guide
Design
• Bright & colourful
• Colour coded sections
Content
• Simple, straightforward
• Stripped of jargon
Style
• Flow charts• Easy to use
& understand
Design of the Resource Guide cont
Assessment, guidance & support for kinship carers by
the Local Authority
Benefit information for kinship carer
Legal rights and responsibilities of kinship carers
List of support agencies for kinship carers and their
children
Contents
Problems FacedLack of consistency within the local authorities of treatment of kinship carers
Different types of kinship carers – “looked after” - “non- looked after” - informal
relationships Lack of consistency for financial entitlements in all of the local authorities
Lack of understanding of the role of kinship carers by local authorities, government and key agencies
Differences of opinion by kinship carers & professionals of what is important
So much important information which needed to be includedResource needs a personal touch
New Resource GuideGlossary to explain
jargonColour coded sections for 3 types of kinship
carers
Process of assessment & support for each
Benefit information for each
Case studies for all
Legal rights and responsibilities for each
Useful info and national support services
The LaunchGuide offered to
Local Authorities for kinship carers and
staff
Resources available in community, and
through website with promotion of posters
Official launch on 26th October in Edinburgh with Minister Adam Ingram present
Feedback
Kinship Carers Professionals
Fantastic resource
Informative and well written
Eye catching, clear and easy to
understand
All our views have been listened to
Wide ranging with tight timescales
A difficult task but undertaken well
“This is exciting this is the start of something new. I just wish I had this when I started out”
“This project highlights the problems in Scotland around kinship care”
Lessons Learned for Scotland There is a lack of awareness of what is a kinship carer?There is a clear lack of recognition of the role of kinship care by the Scottish Government and Local AuthoritiesThere is clear inconsistency across Scotland of the support, procedures and guidance for kinship carersThere is a clear lack of resources and support for kinship carers who are classed as “non looked after” and informal kinship carers
Clear inconsistencies between similar supporting agencies in providing advice to kinship carersThe resource has generated interest from other local authorities who now wish to use it – option for LA to have localised resources for their kinship carers