ENGLAND
Many children live in kinship care as a private arrangement within families without the knowledge or support of statutory agencies. A small proportion will be supported financially or otherwise by local authorities. In some cases, the child concerned will be looked after by the local authority and their kinship carer will have been assessed and approved as a foster carer. There is no registration or notification system for kinship carers in England. Kinship carers have a range of entitlements depending on their financial circumstances. A range of support may be available to kinship carers but services differ between authorities.
SCOTLAND
In Scotland, kinship care arrangements are mainly the same as in England. Scotland has seen an increase in the number of children in kinship care arrangements living with their grandparents. The Scottish government has been consulting with kinship carer support groups, local authorities and organisations such as The Fostering Network on a fostering and kinship care strategy, which is expected to be published shortly. Kinship carers have a range of entitlements depending on their financial circumstances. Some authorities may give financial support to some non-foster carer kinship carers. Approved foster kinship carers may receive allowances.
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