Scotland's vision for kinship care: our offer of support for families

7. Annex B

Consultation period update (December 2025–February 2026)

Alongside earlier engagement, we received further responses via Citizen Space and undertook targeted discussions with kinship carers, young people and sector stakeholders.

Overall, responses welcomed the vision and Scottish offer as a positive step in recognising kinship care and aligning with The Promise and GIRFEC. The strongest message, however, was that families want to see clear delivery, resourcing and consistent implementation across Scotland.

Key themes raised in this consultation period included:

• Delivery confidence and resourcing: Many carers and stakeholders supported the principles but expressed low confidence that change will be delivered without long-term funding, workforce capacity and clear accountability.
• Financial insecurity and child poverty: Financial support and inequality (including perceived disparity with foster care support) was a dominant theme. Respondents highlighted hardship during transitions into kinship care, delays in accessing assistance and complexity of benefit interactions.
• Information at the outset: Carers repeatedly emphasised the need for a clear, universal “starter pack” explaining kinship care, legal routes, entitlements and how to access support and peer networks.
• Legal clarity and access to advice: Many responses highlighted confusion around different legal routes (including Section 11 and looked after status), the implications for support over time, and barriers to accessing affordable legal advice or legal aid.
• Respite and carer wellbeing: Respite was consistently raised as a key gap. Carers described exhaustion and isolation, particularly older carers and those with multiple caring roles, and emphasised that support should not be crisis-only. They emphasised access to planned short breaks, rather than crisis-only intervention, would help sustain placements and protect wellbeing.
• Navigating complex family relationships: Carers highlighted the emotional labour of kinship care, including managing family time, conflict, and fear of being judged as “unsuitable” if they ask for help. Respondents called for trauma-informed, family-centred practice and clearer professional boundaries.
• Education and health access: Respondents noted inconsistent support in schools and long waits for CAMHS/therapeutic services. Young people highlighted stigma, the burden of repeated retelling, and the importance of professionals understanding kinship care.
• Housing pressures: Overcrowding and limited access to appropriate housing were raised as major stressors affecting stability and wellbeing.
• Digital exclusion and accessible communication: Stakeholders emphasised the need for non-digital routes, jargon-free materials and proactive outreach through schools and community settings, so families are not disadvantaged.

We used these insights to refine the vision and offer and will also use it to inform co-design of the phased delivery plan, including priorities for guidance, communication, and support to local implementation.