Scottish government joins Kinship Friendly Employer scheme

Kinship has worked with the Scottish Government on a co-branded Kinship Friendly Employer scheme toolkit to support Scottish employers wanting to create positive change for kinship carer workers. 

This follows the announcement that the Scottish government is introducing additional paid leave for its kinship carer employees. 

Kinship carers are relatives and family friends who step up to raise children and provide them with loving stable homes when their parents are unable to, often with very little support. 

Our Kinship Friendly Employer scheme supports kinship carers who want to stay in work to maintain their income, job security and career prospects whilst stepping up to take on caring responsibilities for children they love. Employers who join are publicly recognised as an organisation that wants to support their employees with balancing their work whilst looking after their children. 

Kinship collaborates with many multi-national corporations and organisations who have implemented our sector leading Kinship Friendly Employer initiatives, including Tesco, B&Q and Lloyds Banking Group.  

We know that some of the differences in policy and practice across the nations were challenging to navigate in implementing policies for whole workforces, which is why we joined forces with the Scottish Government to create a bespoke Kinship Friendly Employer scheme.  

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Kinship’s co-director of Policy and Communications, Rhiannon Clapperton said: 

“We’re delighted to co-produce a Kinship Friendly Employer scheme toolkit for Scottish Government employers to implement. We are keen to share guidance and support for Scottish organisations wanting to join and create positive change for kinship carers. 

“We know from our research that when employers support kinship carers it can make a massive difference. We welcome the Scottish government’s commitment to lead by example and provide meaningful support and create a flexible and inclusive workplace culture that recognises the needs of kinship carers. 

“We have been campaigning for paid leave for kinship carers for over a decade and this week celebrated news that the UK government will include kinship care in its long-awaited review of paternal leave. If introduced, it would benefit kinship carers in all UK nations.” 

The Minister for Children and Young People of Scotland has this week written to all MSPs about the new Kinship Friendly Employer Scheme toolkit. 

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A spokesperson for the Scottish government said: 

“The Scottish Government has both foster and kinship care leave entitlements for our employees. This recognises our diverse workforce and reflects our values of inclusion and kindness. 

“By supporting our colleagues in their caregiving responsibilities, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a supportive and family-friendly workplace and would encourage other Scottish employers to do the same.”  

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Read more about the Kinship Friendly Employer scheme