[Scotland] Call for legislation to support kinship carers

Scotland’s Minister for Keeping the Promise has written a letter urging the UK Government to reconsider its position on parental leave rights, gov.scot reports.

Natalie Don is calling for statutory parental leave rights to be extended to the nation's kinship carers.

Kinship carers are individuals who provide full-time care for a child on behalf of a friend or relative. 

Latest statistics reportedly show that there are currently 4,249 formally looked-after children in kinship care across Scotland and it is estimated that there are around a further 3,000 non-looked-after children in kinship care who are supported by local authorities.

As things currently stand, UK Government guidance means that such carers are reliant on the “goodwill” of their employers if they need to secure paid time off to look after the children in their care.

Ms Don’s letter may be read in full here.

Source: gov.scot

(Link via original reporting)

Scotland’s Minister for Keeping the Promise has written a letter urging the UK Government to reconsider its position on parental leave rights, gov.scot reports.

Natalie Don is calling for statutory parental leave rights to be extended to the nation's kinship carers.

Kinship carers are individuals who provide full-time care for a child on behalf of a friend or relative. 

Latest statistics reportedly show that there are currently 4,249 formally looked-after children in kinship care across Scotland and it is estimated that there are around a further 3,000 non-looked-after children in kinship care who are supported by local authorities.

As things currently stand, UK Government guidance means that such carers are reliant on the “goodwill” of their employers if they need to secure paid time off to look after the children in their care.

Ms Don’s letter may be read in full here.

Source: gov.scot

(Link via original reporting)