Grandparents as Kinship Carers

INTRO:This film highlights the role of grandparents as kinship carers. In general, grandparents are recognised as playing significant supportive roles in the lives of their families. However, their role as carers who take on full parental responsibilities for their grandchildren is less widely understood. Neither are the financial implications and sacrifices of grandparents as kinship carers fully appreciated.
The film was commissioned by Edinburgh Council for the Scottish Older People's Assembly 2013 and made by Dr Val Bissland, (University of Strathclyde and SOPA Committee member).

Synopsis:The film features kinship carers Brian and Jackie. Brian has been looking after his son's two children for 7 years as the parents have addiction problems. He describes his fight for a kinship payment. He also withdrew his application for a residency order although this would have given him rights similar to adoption. But then he might have lost the kinship payment. He points out the anomaly that foster parents receive much more financial support.
Jackie and her husband took on the role of carers 5 years ago when Jackie's daughter was struggling with addiction. She gave up her job and applied for a kinship payment of the two children. She was unsuccessful because she had volunteered. Jackie does receive child tax credit but this is less than she was earning. They do not have a social worker which bars them from applying for any regular payment. Both families are supported by the charity Circle. Circle strives to improve the lives of children and families in Scotland - http://www.circlescotland.org.

Видео Grandparents as Kinship Carers канала Val Bissland