Kinship carers are to receive a weekly allowance for looking after the children of their relatives, the Scottish Government has announced.

{mosimage}It is estimated that more than 2,000 children in Scotland are cared for by relatives because the youngsters cannot be looked after by their own parents. The relatives will be eligible for a weekly allowance of up to £198.

The move is part of an overhaul of the system to support youngsters looked after by foster and kinship carers. The strategy was the first to be produced as a joint commitment by the Scottish Government and local government umbrella group Cosla.

It will introduce a minimum weekly allowance of between £119 and £198 for all carers – putting kinship carers on a par with foster carers. An information and advice service will be introduced for kinship carers.

The strategy will also seek to improve assessment and approval processes and provide better training and support for all carers.

Children’s Minister Adam Ingram said: “Removing any child from the care of their parents is an enormous step with huge responsibilities and that’s why the measures announced today are so important.

Record numbers of Scottish youngsters are being referred to the Children’s Reporter due to “bad parenting”, with a huge rise in sexual offences and cases of neglect.

Too many vulnerable children are being let down by the care system with half leaving school without any Standard Grades, the Scottish Government admitted yesterday.