Revisioning kinship care for children in Scotland

A working draft of a vision for kinship care in Scotland has been published (22 December) by the Scottish Government and is now open for public consultation.

Kinship care is where a child or young person lives with and is cared for by members of their extended family or friends.

The Vision, informed by data, the views of children and young people, kinship carers and local and national partners and research, including that undertaken by CELCIS, sets out proposals to strengthen the support offered to all kinship families in Scotland so that families get the support they need early, fairly and without stigma. Such support includes access to high-quality advice, financial support, and advocacy services, and needs to be holistic and tailored to individual families’ needs.

Joanne McMeeking, Head of Improving Care Experiences at CELCIS, said: “Kinship care is at the heart of families and communities, enabling children to stay connected and feel loved. The Scottish Government’s ambition with this proposed vision for kinship care in Scotland, acknowledges the unique challenges for kinship carers and their families and is both timely and essential.

“By focusing on widening access to support, with sufficient resources and a realistic deliverable plan, the proposed vision has the potential to improve the experience of kinship families.

“This would resonate with Scotland’s commitments to both The Promise of the Independent Care Review and upholding children’s rights. We look forward to working with others on the development of the vision.”

The consultation is open until the 21 February 2026.

Scotland's Draft Vision for Kinship Care