New guidance for practitioners and for parents on impacts and access to welfare payments when children are supported in care
One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) and The Promise Scotland have published two new guides - one for parents and one for practitioners - following the release of their research in 2023 on the financial challenges faced by families in Scotland’s care ‘system’.
The guide for practitioners aims to help the workforce in voluntary and statutory agencies who are supporting families with children in or 'on the edges of care' who may be impacted financially by their children not being cared for at home or after their children return home to their care. The guide explains the financial impact on families so that practitioners have the information they need to support families and improve outcomes, and the case studies and checklists signpost to information of organisations that can help families navigate what they need to do to ensure they get the right support from the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC, and the Scottish Social Security Agency.
The guide for parents is designed to provide information for parents and families to understand how their welfare support might be impacted and where to get support and help and advice about money. It highlights the benefits of parents understanding and being aware of who they need to contact as soon as possible and where to get further advice.