hi folks we have moved back to forum 2 due to popular demand pl;ease use this link for easy access http://www.grandparentsapart.co,uk/forum/
charles solomon vice/chairman grandparents apart uk
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Support for Kinship carer’s–
Support for kinship carer’s– information for Grandparents Apart Self Help Group
Getting it right for every child in kinship and foster care’ (the national kinship and foster care strategy) makes wide ranging proposals to support kinship carers covering finance, training and other support, such as respite care.
A link to this document is attached below:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/03143704/0
Kinship care allowances.
‘Getting it right for every child in kinship and foster care’ proposes to support kinship carers financially in the following ways:
All kinship carers
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) will develop a specialist information service for all kinship carers to give advice on benefits and maximising financial support.
In July 2007, the Scottish Government published an information booklet commissioned from CAS entitled: Kinship Carers: Possible benefit entitlement and potential issues when claiming benefits. A link is attached below:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/07/04134847/0
Kinship carers could also contact their local Citizens Advice Scotland office to discuss any benefits to which they or the children for whom they are caring may be entitled. A link is attached: http://www.cas.org.uk/
There will be improved assessment and approval processes as well as better training and support for both foster and kinship carers. An external reference group, led by The Fostering Network (TFN) and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) was formed to deal with processes arising from the strategy. This group will report its recommendations to Ministers in the coming months.
A national protocol will be developed for dealing with complaints and allegations against both foster and kinship carers – again, there is an external reference group of experts working on this. The external reference group will report their recommendations to Ministers in the coming months.
Approved kinship carers of looked after children
Approved kinship carers of looked after children will be paid allowances by the local authority to treat them on an equivalent basis to that local authority’s foster carers. As foster carers are not eligible for child benefit, any child benefit contribution payable to a kinship carer will be deducted from their allowance prior to payment by the local authority. If kinship carers wish to discuss eligibility/the timescale for payment of this allowance, they should contact their local social work department.
To be eligible for this payment, grandparents or other relative carers must care for a looked after child. ‘Looked after’ is defined in law under Section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. It generally refers to:
a child for whom the local authority is providing accommodation because no-one has parental responsibility for him/her; he/she is lost or abandoned; or the person who has been caring for him/her is no longer able to do so. This may be temporarily or permanently the case;
a child who is subject to a supervision requirement from a children’s hearing;
a child who is subject to certain orders under the 1995 Act; or
a child who is the subject of a permanence order or permanence order proceedings
Copies of both these documents may be obtained free of charge from Suzanne Allan on 0131 244 0407 or suzanne.allan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
KINSHIP CARE ALLOWANCES
Approved kinship carers of looked after children:
Approved kinship carers of looked after children will be paid allowances by the local authority to treat them on an equivalent basis to that local authority’s foster carers. As foster carers are not eligible for child benefit, any child benefit contribution payable to a kinship carer will be deducted from their allowance prior to payment by the local authority.
• To be eligible for this payment, grandparents or other relative carers must care for a looked after child.
‘Looked after’ is defined in law under Section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995:
• A supervision requirement made by a children’s hearing under section 70 of the 1995 Act.
• A child accommodated by the Local Authority under section 25 of the 1995 Act.
• An order made or authorisation or warrant granted by virtue of chapter 2, 3 or 4 of Part II of the 1995 Act.
• A placement made by a local authority which has taken parental responsibility under section 86 of the 1995 Act (to be repealed shortly under the Adoption and Children Act 2007).
Children are not “looked after” if they are the subject of an order under section 11 of the 1995 Act.
Under Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, Kinship carers may continue to approach their local Social Work department for help and support if they feel that the child is in need. This help may include giving assistance in kind or, in exceptional circumstances, in cash.
Financial support for all kinship carers
• Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) will be developing a specialist information service for all kinship carers to give advice on benefits and how to maximise financial support. The Scottish Government will be working with the UK government to tackle current problems around benefits entitlement for all carers.
• In addition, local authorities already have powers under Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, and use them, to support children and families in need. Kinship carers can still continue to approach their local Social Work department for help and support if they feel that the child for
whom they are caring is in need. This help may include giving assistance in kind or, in exceptional circumstances, in cash.
• In July 2007, the Scottish Government published an information booklet commissioned from CAS entitled: Kinship Carers: Possible benefit entitlement and potential issues when claiming benefits.
• Carers could also contact their local Citizens Advice Scotland office to discuss any benefits to which they or the children for whom they care may be entitled.
Their website: http://www.cas.org.uk
Seeking advice on Legal Status of the child
If carers have any questions about the legal status of the children for whom they care and whether or not they would be eligible for this allowance, they should discuss this either with their solicitor or their local Social Work Department.
If they do not have a solicitor, then they should contact the Law Society of Scotland, 26 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7YR on 0131 226 7411. They should be able to put carers in touch with a local solicitor who is a specialist in family law.
Their website : http://www.lawscot.org.uk
The Concordat
The historic concordat/agreement with local government has given councils record resources for the next three years. COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), Scottish Government and local authorities have a shared commitment to providing better financial support for the kinship carers of looked after children.
Some local authorities already provide this support and the Government and local authorities will be working together to implement the commitment as soon as possible. A reference group will be producing guidance and good practice information focussed on assessment procedures, recruitment, training, and support for kinship carers and advice on children’s permanent care. This information will be available in the autumn
Getting it right for every child in kinship and foster care’ (the national kinship and foster care strategy) makes wide ranging proposals to support kinship carers covering finance, training and other support, such as respite care.
A link to this document is attached below:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/03143704/0
Kinship care allowances.
‘Getting it right for every child in kinship and foster care’ proposes to support kinship carers financially in the following ways:
All kinship carers
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) will develop a specialist information service for all kinship carers to give advice on benefits and maximising financial support.
In July 2007, the Scottish Government published an information booklet commissioned from CAS entitled: Kinship Carers: Possible benefit entitlement and potential issues when claiming benefits. A link is attached below:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/07/04134847/0
Kinship carers could also contact their local Citizens Advice Scotland office to discuss any benefits to which they or the children for whom they are caring may be entitled. A link is attached: http://www.cas.org.uk/
There will be improved assessment and approval processes as well as better training and support for both foster and kinship carers. An external reference group, led by The Fostering Network (TFN) and the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) was formed to deal with processes arising from the strategy. This group will report its recommendations to Ministers in the coming months.
A national protocol will be developed for dealing with complaints and allegations against both foster and kinship carers – again, there is an external reference group of experts working on this. The external reference group will report their recommendations to Ministers in the coming months.
Approved kinship carers of looked after children
Approved kinship carers of looked after children will be paid allowances by the local authority to treat them on an equivalent basis to that local authority’s foster carers. As foster carers are not eligible for child benefit, any child benefit contribution payable to a kinship carer will be deducted from their allowance prior to payment by the local authority. If kinship carers wish to discuss eligibility/the timescale for payment of this allowance, they should contact their local social work department.
To be eligible for this payment, grandparents or other relative carers must care for a looked after child. ‘Looked after’ is defined in law under Section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. It generally refers to:
a child for whom the local authority is providing accommodation because no-one has parental responsibility for him/her; he/she is lost or abandoned; or the person who has been caring for him/her is no longer able to do so. This may be temporarily or permanently the case;
a child who is subject to a supervision requirement from a children’s hearing;
a child who is subject to certain orders under the 1995 Act; or
a child who is the subject of a permanence order or permanence order proceedings
Copies of both these documents may be obtained free of charge from Suzanne Allan on 0131 244 0407 or suzanne.allan@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
KINSHIP CARE ALLOWANCES
Approved kinship carers of looked after children:
Approved kinship carers of looked after children will be paid allowances by the local authority to treat them on an equivalent basis to that local authority’s foster carers. As foster carers are not eligible for child benefit, any child benefit contribution payable to a kinship carer will be deducted from their allowance prior to payment by the local authority.
• To be eligible for this payment, grandparents or other relative carers must care for a looked after child.
‘Looked after’ is defined in law under Section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995:
• A supervision requirement made by a children’s hearing under section 70 of the 1995 Act.
• A child accommodated by the Local Authority under section 25 of the 1995 Act.
• An order made or authorisation or warrant granted by virtue of chapter 2, 3 or 4 of Part II of the 1995 Act.
• A placement made by a local authority which has taken parental responsibility under section 86 of the 1995 Act (to be repealed shortly under the Adoption and Children Act 2007).
Children are not “looked after” if they are the subject of an order under section 11 of the 1995 Act.
Under Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, Kinship carers may continue to approach their local Social Work department for help and support if they feel that the child is in need. This help may include giving assistance in kind or, in exceptional circumstances, in cash.
Financial support for all kinship carers
• Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) will be developing a specialist information service for all kinship carers to give advice on benefits and how to maximise financial support. The Scottish Government will be working with the UK government to tackle current problems around benefits entitlement for all carers.
• In addition, local authorities already have powers under Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, and use them, to support children and families in need. Kinship carers can still continue to approach their local Social Work department for help and support if they feel that the child for
whom they are caring is in need. This help may include giving assistance in kind or, in exceptional circumstances, in cash.
• In July 2007, the Scottish Government published an information booklet commissioned from CAS entitled: Kinship Carers: Possible benefit entitlement and potential issues when claiming benefits.
• Carers could also contact their local Citizens Advice Scotland office to discuss any benefits to which they or the children for whom they care may be entitled.
Their website: http://www.cas.org.uk
Seeking advice on Legal Status of the child
If carers have any questions about the legal status of the children for whom they care and whether or not they would be eligible for this allowance, they should discuss this either with their solicitor or their local Social Work Department.
If they do not have a solicitor, then they should contact the Law Society of Scotland, 26 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7YR on 0131 226 7411. They should be able to put carers in touch with a local solicitor who is a specialist in family law.
Their website : http://www.lawscot.org.uk
The Concordat
The historic concordat/agreement with local government has given councils record resources for the next three years. COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), Scottish Government and local authorities have a shared commitment to providing better financial support for the kinship carers of looked after children.
Some local authorities already provide this support and the Government and local authorities will be working together to implement the commitment as soon as possible. A reference group will be producing guidance and good practice information focussed on assessment procedures, recruitment, training, and support for kinship carers and advice on children’s permanent care. This information will be available in the autumn
Sunday, April 13, 2008
PLEASE GIVE YOUR OPINION
HI ANYONE THAT VIEW'S THE SITE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE YOUR OPINION
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REGISTER TO DO SO ,WHETHER YOU HAVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN OR NOT IF YOU DONT HAVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN DO YOU THINK IT IS A WASTE OF TIME US AT GRANDPARENTS APART TRYING TO GET ALL GRANDCHILDREN CONTACT
WITH THERE GRANDPARENT/S { BY PHONE } { BY E-MAIL } {BY LETTER}
{BY ESCORTED VISITS }{ BY ANY MEANS AT ALL ANY CONTACT IS BETTER THAN NONE AT ALL }
IF YOU THINK WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME TELL US WHY IN YOUR OWN WORDS
IS THERE ANYWAY THAT YOU THINK WOULD IMPROVE OUR CHANCES OR OUR WEBSITE WE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANY USEFULL COMMENTS WE NEED
YOU TO HELP US TO HELP YOU.WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
WE HAVE MADE THE SITE SO YOU DONT HAVE TO FILL IN YOUR PRIVATE DETAIL'S
SO YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS. SO GET POSTING FOLKS GIVE US A FEW MINUTES
OFF YOU TIME TELL US YOUR YOUR HAPPY STORIES WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN .
OR TELL US YOUR SAD STORIES WITHOUT YOUR GRANDCHILD/REN WE NEED BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN.
WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN READING THIS MESSAGE,
CHARLIE V/C GRANDPARENTS APART.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REGISTER TO DO SO ,WHETHER YOU HAVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN OR NOT IF YOU DONT HAVE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN DO YOU THINK IT IS A WASTE OF TIME US AT GRANDPARENTS APART TRYING TO GET ALL GRANDCHILDREN CONTACT
WITH THERE GRANDPARENT/S { BY PHONE } { BY E-MAIL } {BY LETTER}
{BY ESCORTED VISITS }{ BY ANY MEANS AT ALL ANY CONTACT IS BETTER THAN NONE AT ALL }
IF YOU THINK WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME TELL US WHY IN YOUR OWN WORDS
IS THERE ANYWAY THAT YOU THINK WOULD IMPROVE OUR CHANCES OR OUR WEBSITE WE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANY USEFULL COMMENTS WE NEED
YOU TO HELP US TO HELP YOU.WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
WE HAVE MADE THE SITE SO YOU DONT HAVE TO FILL IN YOUR PRIVATE DETAIL'S
SO YOU CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS. SO GET POSTING FOLKS GIVE US A FEW MINUTES
OFF YOU TIME TELL US YOUR YOUR HAPPY STORIES WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN .
OR TELL US YOUR SAD STORIES WITHOUT YOUR GRANDCHILD/REN WE NEED BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN.
WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN READING THIS MESSAGE,
CHARLIE V/C GRANDPARENTS APART.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A very sad story.
I get loads of sad stories but this one had me crying.
Hi Jimmy
I signed the petition, good to know you are still campaigning for such an important cause. You may not remember our case however would like to update you that my parents now get to see their grandchildren from time to time, not on a regular basis but contact has been re-established unfortunately this has been because my father was diagnosed with terminal lung and brain cancer at Christmas and my brother (and his wife) now seem to have had a change of heart and are trying to make sure what precious time my father has left is surrounded by peace and contentment.
So their wish has been granted but unfortunately with a high price to pay.
Thanks for your kind words of support given in the past and good luck with your petition.
C.....
Hi Jimmy
I signed the petition, good to know you are still campaigning for such an important cause. You may not remember our case however would like to update you that my parents now get to see their grandchildren from time to time, not on a regular basis but contact has been re-established unfortunately this has been because my father was diagnosed with terminal lung and brain cancer at Christmas and my brother (and his wife) now seem to have had a change of heart and are trying to make sure what precious time my father has left is surrounded by peace and contentment.
So their wish has been granted but unfortunately with a high price to pay.
Thanks for your kind words of support given in the past and good luck with your petition.
C.....
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Reforms to legal aid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7336355.stm
Tuesday, 8 April 2008 12:17 UK
Reforms to legal aid for less serious crimes have been proposed by the Scottish Government.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008 12:17 UK
Reforms to legal aid for less serious crimes have been proposed by the Scottish Government.
Papal statement about grandparents.
"Start afresh" with active grandparents, Pope urges
Vatican, Apr. 7, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Grandparents should offer "a living witness of kindness, sacrifice, and a daily and unreserved giving of self" to young people, Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) told an audience on April 5.
The Holy Father spoke to members of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which was concluding a plenary session devoted to grandparents. He remarked that in modern society, with children less frequently raised in an extended-family environment, the role of grandparents has changed. He urged that, despite these changes, grandparents must remain "a living presence in the family, in the Church, and in society."
Too many elderly people think that they have become "a burden to their family," the Pope said. He decried the tendency to shunt the elderly off into nursing homes unnecessarily, and the growing threat of euthanasia for those whose lives are deemed unproductive.
Family life has been battered, the Pope said, by "so-called new models of the family and rampant relativism." He said that the time is ripe to "start afresh" by restoring an appreciation for the gifts grandparents can bring to the lives of the grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
Vatican, Apr. 7, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Grandparents should offer "a living witness of kindness, sacrifice, and a daily and unreserved giving of self" to young people, Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) told an audience on April 5.
The Holy Father spoke to members of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which was concluding a plenary session devoted to grandparents. He remarked that in modern society, with children less frequently raised in an extended-family environment, the role of grandparents has changed. He urged that, despite these changes, grandparents must remain "a living presence in the family, in the Church, and in society."
Too many elderly people think that they have become "a burden to their family," the Pope said. He decried the tendency to shunt the elderly off into nursing homes unnecessarily, and the growing threat of euthanasia for those whose lives are deemed unproductive.
Family life has been battered, the Pope said, by "so-called new models of the family and rampant relativism." He said that the time is ripe to "start afresh" by restoring an appreciation for the gifts grandparents can bring to the lives of the grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
Monday, April 7, 2008
How to get what we need.
Professor Peter Smith and Linda Drew of Goldsmith College Oxford undertook research on grandparents who were separated from their families and it was found that 82% of real and psychosomatic illness for older people are caused by loneliness and separation from the family.
We need to promote the role that older people can play in modern life and show them what we're made of.We have the voting power, "The Grey Vote" and all the major parties recognise this and are trying to con us into thinking they are going to do great things for us and we must vote for them but we all know that when they get elected we are pushed to the back again.
We need to tell all our families and friends and pensioners, grandparents and older people's groups for them to know we will only get what we are entitled to when we have our candidates elected and working for our benefit.We started Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland because there was nowhere we could turn to for advice when we were separated from our grandchildren.
Grandparents were very low in the recognition of the role they could play in their grandchildren's lives by the courts social services and professionals who deal with children. We are proud to say there have been huge changes and we have raised the profile of grandparents to a higher recognition and are working with the government in producing "The Charter for Grandchildren" and "The Parenting Agreement" and this year we have been invited once again to join focus groups on making family contact work.A couple of hours a week will help tremendously. It can be done if we put our heart into it and stand up and be counted and be proud of it.
We need to promote the role that older people can play in modern life and show them what we're made of.We have the voting power, "The Grey Vote" and all the major parties recognise this and are trying to con us into thinking they are going to do great things for us and we must vote for them but we all know that when they get elected we are pushed to the back again.
We need to tell all our families and friends and pensioners, grandparents and older people's groups for them to know we will only get what we are entitled to when we have our candidates elected and working for our benefit.We started Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland because there was nowhere we could turn to for advice when we were separated from our grandchildren.
Grandparents were very low in the recognition of the role they could play in their grandchildren's lives by the courts social services and professionals who deal with children. We are proud to say there have been huge changes and we have raised the profile of grandparents to a higher recognition and are working with the government in producing "The Charter for Grandchildren" and "The Parenting Agreement" and this year we have been invited once again to join focus groups on making family contact work.A couple of hours a week will help tremendously. It can be done if we put our heart into it and stand up and be counted and be proud of it.
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