Member

32: After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause— “Kinship care report and regulations(1) The Secretary of State must, with 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, carry out a review assessing the effectiveness of the current pathways for approval of kinship carers.(2) The Secretary of State must lay a report setting out the findings of the review before Parliament.(3) Following the publication of the report required by subsection (1), the Secretary of State must introduce regulations regarding the approval of kinship carers.(4) These regulations must seek to—(a) improve the safety and wellbeing of children in kinship care,(b) reduce barriers to becoming to a kinship carer,(c) establish a requirement for a kinship support plan which is monitored by the local authority for a minimum period and until the arrangements for the child are judged to be safe and the welfare of the child is being promoted, and(d) reduce the burden for local authorities and the family courts.(5) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”Member’s explanatory statement This amendment requires the Secretary of State to review and update the approval requirements for kinship carers.