The Promise was launched in February 2020 following a wide-ranging, root-and-branch investigation of children’s services by the Independent Care Review. The review heard evidence from more than 5,500 care-experienced young people and adults as well as dozens of organisations who work to support vulnerable children and young people across Scotland.
The Promise refers to Kinship Care specifically in a number of areas:
“Whatever the mode of arrangement, Scotland must ensure that children living in kinship care get the support they need to thrive. Kinship must be actively explored as a positive place for children to be cared for”
“Kinship carers must be supported to continue to care for the children they are looking after and this must include, but not be limited to, financial support. Too often, children have been placed with an ‘auntie’ or ‘granny’ or other relation with no ongoing support to manage a complex set of circumstances. Finding a biological relation to place a child with is not enough to ensure that a child grows up in the context of love and kindness. These families are often managing the impact and pain of the biological parent not being able to care for their children.“
“There must be no barriers for children to have regular, positive childhood experiences.”
– The Promise 2020
KCASS recognises that Kinship placements provide emotional permanence and reinforce a sense of identity for children who live in a Kinship Care arrangement. Kinship Care can help children more easily remain in contact with their brothers and sisters which has a particular focus in the Promise document. Further information can be found here: Home – The Promise
The Promise is also viewed by KCASS as a learning opportunity for us as a charity. What are we doing well? Where do we need to improve? And are we offering the right support to everyone who needs it? We will reform and improve our policies and services to ensure we’re doing all we can to support Kinship Families in Scotland.