Family Rights Group | Kinship carers’ Forum

We are currently caring for our niece who is 4 months old.. who is under a compulsory supervision order

Her parents ts are showing no interest in contact and sw can not even contact them and when appointments are being made they are not attending..

We live in Scotland and are wanting to spend Xmas with family in England but SW are saying that we are not allowed to go unless her parents give us permission??

Do we really need permission for this? We aren't leaving the UK and are only there for 4 nights

The law is Scotland relating to children is different to England and Wales. You are probably best to ask the question at https://sclc.org.uk who will know what the restrictions are for the order that is in effect.

Good luck .... Robin

DGR21 wrote: Thu Oct 23, 2025 9:50 am We are currently caring for our niece who is 4 months old.. who is under a compulsory supervision order

Her parents ts are showing no interest in contact and sw can not even contact them and when appointments are being made they are not attending..

We live in Scotland and are wanting to spend Xmas with family in England but SW are saying that we are not allowed to go unless her parents give us permission??

Do we really need permission for this? We aren't leaving the UK and are only there for 4 nights

Dear DGR21

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

You are a kinship carer in Scotland and would like to visit family in England at Christmas for a few days with your baby niece. The baby’s social worker has advised that you need the baby’s parents’ permission to do so. You are wondering if this is correct. Your niece’s mother and perhaps her father will have parental responsibility for her so they would normally need to be asked if changes are being made to any arrangements for the child.

However, as you live in Scotland, it is important that you seek legal advice from a service that can advise you on the law and practice in Scotland. Family Rights Group’s remit and funding are to provide advice to families about child welfare law and practice in England; the law is different in Scotland so you must check in your area what the requirements are. There are a number of Scottish legal services who should be able to answer your query fully. We have collated and provided contact details of legal advice services in the Scotland page of our useful links. I hope that you will be able to get clear legal advice from one of the services listed. Another kinship carer has provided a helpful signpost already.

Best wishes

Suzie