Tag: pilot

UK Government launches investment in support for kinship carers

£126 million of support confirmed for family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles who care for relatives’ children in new pilot scheme

Thousands of children living in kinship care are set to benefit from earlier, more consistent support as the government today announces seven new Kinship Zones across England.

Kinship carers are adults who step in to provide a loving and supportive home to children in their family whose parents are unable to care for them full-time for a wide range of reasons. They are often grandparents, aunts, uncles or family friends.

These children have often experienced trauma and might otherwise end up in the care system, where outcomes in areas like education and health are significantly worse.

Currently, kinship carers do not receive consistent financial support, unlike foster carers and adoptive families. This is despite the fact that kinship care is shown to lead to better outcomes the residential care homes, with a 2021 report by University College London showing lower rates of long term illness and higher rates of employment for adults with a history of kinship care compared to those that grew up in foster or residential care

The government is now trialling a financial allowance to eligible kinship carers, backed by £126 million to reach around 5,000 children, recognising the vital role carers play in the lives of their vulnerable children.

This starts with a pilot in the seven local authority area Kinship Zones announced today, with kinship carers to be provided with funding per child, equivalent to what foster carers receive.

Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, said: “As a country we owe kinship carers our thanks and our support, and the new financial allowance which we’re trialling as part of our plan for change recognises the vital role they play ensuring families can stay together.

“We promised to introduce this scheme to support kinship carers who step up for the children they love and give every child the best possible start in life.

“These Kinship Zones will lead the way in showing the impact for children when we unlock the power of grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives who could care for their kin in the place of the care system.”

Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive of Foundations, said: Kinship carers play a vital role in helping to ensure that children can stay safely looked after in their family networks.

“That’s why we’re pleased to undertake the evaluation of the kinship financial allowances pilot announced today, to help to build the evidence base and shape future support for kinship carers and the children they care for.”

Jahnine Davies, National Kinship Care Ambassador, said : “The launch of the Kinship Zones pilot marks an important milestone for kinship carers and the children they care for. For the first time, we have a government‑led initiative that will not only examine how best to provide financial support for kinship families but will also encourage local authorities to look holistically at the support they offer and adopt a genuine ‘think family’ approach.

“Alongside this, my report, also published today, sets out key learning in this area, and I hope it will be a valuable resource for all local authorities as they review and strengthen their approach to kinship care.

“I look forward to working with the Kinship Zones and celebrating the launch of this vital pilot.”

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said : “Kinship carers provide stability and love during moments of significant upheaval in a child’s life – their value often goes under-acknowledged, but the commitment they offer can be transformative.

“The overwhelming majority of children in kinship care who I have spoken to as Children’s Commissioner tell me they feel loved and cared for, a true testament to the unique bonds formed during kinship care.

“I have called for kinship carers to be given a financial allowance that supports the transition into these new living arrangements – so I am grateful to the government for listening and taking this important first step.”

Cathy Ashley OBE, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group said: “All children should be raised safely in their family wherever possible. Kinship carers step in, often at a moment’s notice, to make that happen.

“They often save the state thousands in care costs but many face real financial hardship in doing so. The pilot is taking a groundbreaking step which will make a difference to 4,500 children and their families in seven areas.

“In the meantime, as all local authorities develop their kinship local offer, this is a critical moment for national and local government to go further to build a fair, effective support system for all kinship families.”

James Bury, Head of Policy, Research and Development at CoramBAAF, said: “This is an encouraging and positive important announcement for kinship carers and CoramBAAF welcomes the launch of the financial allowances pilot.

“This important initiative will provide much needed financial support to kinship families in seven local authorities.

“Through our work supporting practice and hearing directly from families, we know the challenges that kinship carers can face, as well as the challenges facing local authorities in providing consistent and fair financial support.

“We look forward to seeing the impact of the pilots and look forward to this potentially leading to a wider roll-out to enable families across the country to benefit.”

Lucy Peake, Chief Executive of Kinship said:  “Today’s announcement is an important first step towards ensuring kinship families have the financial support they need to provide children with stable, loving homes.

“A guaranteed allowance equal to the foster care allowance will be life‑changing for kinship carers in the local authority areas where this is being piloted, many of whom struggle to afford the basics for the children they have unexpectedly stepped in to raise. 

“Following years of campaigning alongside kinship carers, we’re pleased the government has recognised the current system is inequitable and is putting a huge strain on kinship families, pushing many into poverty. Providing financial support to kinship families and investing in family networks will help children stay safely with those who love them, and reduce the need for more costly options in the care system. 

“Kinship carers hold our care system together, and they deserve the right support to continue doing so.”

This ambitious pilot programme – the largest government investment in kinship care of its kind to date – will support around 5,000 kinship children, backed by over £126 million of new funding confirmed for the first two years with further funding to be confirmed in the next Spending Review period.

The pilot will run for up to three and a half years, with further expansion to be confirmed after evaluation.

The seven confirmed Kinship Zone local authorities are:

  • Bexley (Greater London)
  • Bolton (North West)
  • Newcastle (North East)
  • North East Lincolnshire (East Midlands)
  • Medway (South East)
  • Thurrock (East of England)
  • Wiltshire (South West)

Each Kinship Zone will receive a package of funding and support, enabling local authorities to tailor delivery to local needs. Money saved by local authorities thanks to central government pilot funding will be redirected to other support schemes for family networks.

The seven local authority areas were chosen following a selection process last June. Together, they offer a useful mix of geography, demographics, and service models. This was intentional: the pilot is designed to test what works at scale in varied local contexts, so robust learning can be generated for future decisions.

Some councils offer support to kinship carers, but it can vary greatly. The Kinship Zones programme will enable the DfE and participating councils to work out how best to deliver financial support to kinship carers across the country and how it should be delivered in future.

The ultimate goal is to support more children to grow up within their family networks, avoiding care. The children’s care organisation Foundations, working in partnership with consultancy Alma Economics, will track outcomes for carers and children throughout the pilot to inform future decisions.

The Department for Education will publish findings from the programme to ensure transparency about what works and how support can be strengthened nationwide.

The Kinship Zones programme marks a significant step forward in ensuring they receive the right help at the right time, while building a strong evidence base to shape future national policy.

New PHP Community Impact Fund is open for grant applications

A new Scotland-wide fund supports charitable organisations providing social, emotional and practical help within their communities with grants up to £10,000.

Scotland is one of two pilot regions in the UK to offer the new PHP Community Impact Fund thanks to Primary Health Properties PLC (PHP). PHP is a Real Estate Investment Trust supporting the NHS in the delivery of primary care buildings, which positively impact the health and wellbeing of the communities they are located in.  

Grants are available to charities and community groups that deliver social prescribing and community wellbeing initiatives to the communities served by the primary care centres owned by PHP. 

Social prescribing enables a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. It allows GPs and other frontline healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker to explore ‘social prescription’ options. Many services provided by the voluntary and community sector can offer solutions to improve patients health and wellbeing. 

Examples of services activities that can be included in social prescribing schemes include healthy eating advice and cooking classes, mindfulness activities, music classes, sports and exercise groups, gardening, therapeutic art activities, book clubs, and Men’s Sheds.

Social prescribing is an innovative and growing movement with the potential to reduce the financial burden on the NHS and particularly on primary care. Social prescribing also plays a vital role in helping communities recover and rebuild after the coronavirus pandemic, particularly given the increased demand for services to support mental health and combat loneliness.

Grants are available for social and charitable activities and services that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and communities surrounding the 38 different PHP locations across Scotland. The fund also looks to support the education, promotion and protection of good health within these communities.

Helen Wray, Head of Programmes at Foundation Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to partner with PHP to establish this new fund in Scotland. The new Community Impact Fund has launched at a critical time following the height of the pandemic.

“As our NHS continues to be under immense pressure, this is a fantastic initiative from PHP to help improve patient wellbeing outcomes, quality of life and emotional wellbeing.”

The fund is open until 25th October, offering grants up to £10,000 to charitable organisations within a 10-mile radius of PHP’s 38 locations across Scotland.

Their locations range from Dingwall in the Highlands down to Gretna Green in Dumfriesshire. 

To find out more and make an application, visit:

https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/community-impact-fund

Child Disability Payment opens for new applications in pilot areas

Benefit is now available in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles

Scotland’s new Child Disability Payment has opened for applications from people living in three pilot areas.

From today, families of children with a disability or long-term health condition living in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and Western Isles council areas who need financial support should apply to the new system.

This is the first application-based disability benefit to be introduced by the Scottish Government and will be administered by Social Security Scotland. The benefit replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children. 

The pilot will be followed by a nationwide roll out in the autumn and is for families applying for the first time for this benefit. Those already in receipt of Disability Living Allowance for children do not need to apply and their cases will be transferred in future.

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “Families have been involved throughout the development of Child Disability Payment and it is hugely rewarding to see three years of work on this benefit now delivering for people. Every client can expect to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect throughout the process.

“Parents and carers of a child with a disability or long term health condition already experience a number of challenges and accessing the financial support that they are entitled to shouldn’t be another one. By including them at every step of the process, we have been able to focus on what suits parents and carers and have designed a system that meets their needs.

“It is fantastic to see the pilot in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles begin for people with new claims. It will allow us to make sure the new disability benefit system is fully ready for Child Disability Payment’s full national rollout this autumn, and ahead of the transfer of existing clients.”

This latest support is being introduced for families applying for disability assistance for the first time. The three area pilot provides a safe and secure introduction of the benefit in relatively small numbers with the opportunity to ensure the new service is meeting the needs of clients before expanding nationally.

Families do not need to make a new application for Child Disability Payment if they are currently in receipt of Disability Living Allowance for children. These families will be contacted directly and their benefit will be transferred automatically to Social Security Scotland in a phased approach from autumn.

This means their Disability Living Allowance for children will be replaced by the Scottish Child Disability Payment. Their Child Disability Payment will continue to be made at the same rates and at the same time as their Disability Living Allowance for children.

Child Disability Payment is the first of the three big disability benefits to be introduced by the Scottish Government and the first that needs to be applied for.

To enable people to apply in the way that suits them best, it will be the first disability benefit in the UK that can be applied for online, as well as being available by post, phone, or face to face (Covid restrictions permitting).

To coincide with the introduction of Child Disability Payment, Social Security Scotland has also launched its local delivery service in the three pilot areas.

This means that people will be able to get advice and support on all 11 Social Security Scotland administered benefits face-to-face (Covid restrictions permitting) at a location in their local community or via video call. The local delivery service will also be available nationally from autumn.

Tracy McNally, Director of Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau said: “The devolution of these social security payments is a massive opportunity to get the system right for people.

“The Citizens Advice network across Scotland helps people with social security concerns every day, with disability benefits being one of the biggest issues people seek advice from, so people should feel confident in knowing they’ll always be able to turn to us for help if they need it with the new payment.”

People can find out more and apply through mygov.scot or by calling 0800 182 2222.

  • Child Disability Payment provides money to help with the extra care and mobility costs children and young people with a disability may have, up to the age of 18
  • Child Disability Payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children.
  • People who currently get disability benefits from Department for Work and Pensions will have their awards transferred to the new Scottish system in stages after the new benefits are introduced. This work is expected to be completed to the previously announced timeline of 2025.
  • Young people and children in Scotland who are currently getting Disability Living Allowance for children from the DWP will no longer need to apply for PIP when they turn 16. They will stay on Disability Living Allowance to age 18 if they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Child Winter Heating Assistance was the first benefit for disabled people in Scotland. This is an annual £200 payment for children and young people who receive the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance and will help families meet day and night-time winter fuel costs
  • From autumn 2021, Social Security Scotland will administer 11 benefits:
    • Best Start Foods
    • Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
    • Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
    • Best Start Grant School Age Payment
    • Carer’s Allowance Supplement
    • Child Disability Payment
    • Child Winter Heating Assistance
    • Funeral Support Payment
    • Job Start Payment
    • Scottish Child Payment (for children under 6 years old)
    • Young Carer Grant

Grounded pilot signs up to work for Mobile Testing Units

A commercial airline pilot who found himself unemployed as a result of the pandemic is now helping to fight Covid by working at one of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s Mobile Testing Units (MTUs).

Marcus Spinks, who has twenty-five years’ experience as a pilot and over 10,000 flying hours, is a Senior Operative at the Mobile Testing Unit at Altens in Aberdeen, one of 42 units run by the Service to ensure communities across Scotland have access to testing.

Marcus says: “I was introduced to the idea of the MTUs by a former colleague who knew I was looking for employment. After looking into the role, I thought by joining the MTUs I would be able to use my transferable skills in a positive way. This would give me the opportunity to do my part in the fight against the pandemic.”

After completing his pilot training in 1995, Marcus flew as a commercial pilot on Highland and Islands and UK domestic routes, and then across Europe – following in the footsteps of father, who was also a pilot. Marcus qualified as a Captain in 2008, and in 2013 he switched to fly within the Oil and Gas industry for Eastern Airways from Aberdeen.

In 2019, Marcus relocated to Dublin to work as a commercial pilot again, where he flew across UK and Europe for Cityjet. But in March 2020, when travel was halted around the globe following the pandemic, Marcus found himself grounded.

“Unfortunately, due to the dramatic downturn in aviation travel, the company I was employed with made the entire base redundant. This was a great shame as I was really enjoying the new opportunity I had been given by moving to Dublin.”

While he was forced to give up his dream job, Marcus has found that working at the MTU provides different challenges and job satisfaction.

“It’s great to see when you have made a different to someone’s day. Some people do arrive feeling apprehensive, nervous and distressed to a certain level. It’s great to be able to help them with their test by making them feel at ease and reassured they have nothing to worry about and they leave the MTU feeling much happier.

“The good comradeship with my fellow team members as it has brought people from many different environments together.”

While Marcus enjoys the challenges of working for the MTUs, he still hopes that he will be able to fly again, once the travel industry is on track for recovery.

He says: “Aviation has given me some fantastic experiences, I’ve worked within great teams and made good friends in many countries. I’ve been very lucky to see some spectacular views from my office window.”

Find out more about Mobile Testing Units (scottishambulance.com)