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Fostering in Scotland
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New law in Scotland allows same sex foster carers
February 22, 2010
2010’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT) History Month sees foster care agencies in Scotland join the LGBT community to celebrate a historic change in Scottish Government policy. Finally, fostering agencies are now allowed to call upon same sex couples to help address the severe national shortage of foster carers in Scotland.
The new regulations that govern fostering services in Scotland came into force in September 2009, and were welcomed by many as they addressed an inequality where fostering agencies and Local Authorities could not accept applications from same sex couples who wanted to foster.
Malcolm Gibson, Recruitment Manager for FCA Scotland, has eagerly awaited the new policy which now permits him to progress with interest from same sex couples who want to foster. “Not only is this a positive juncture in Scottish politics, but it also means that as a foster care agency we can now look to the LGBT community to help provide much needed safe and secure home environments for children and young people in desperate need of care,” says Malcolm.
“We have taken enquiries in the past from couples who were potentially great candidates to become foster carers, but we had to tell them to wait for this new regulation to come into effect before we could proceed.”
Speaking during the annual celebrations, Malcolm plans to use similar high profile events throughout the year to highlight this new development and urge interested couples to get in touch, “We’ve been asked the question from same sex couples ‘can we foster?’, and I don’t think that the information on the new regulations is easily found. Gladly I can say it is true, and if anyone feels they might have the skills and enthusiasm to become a foster carer, then I’d ask them to please look us up and come and have a chat.”
The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 and Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 came into effect on 28th September 2009, bringing Scotland into line with the rest of the UK, where same sex couples have been able to foster since 2005.
If you are a same sex couple interested in fostering, call FCA Scotland on 0800 085 225.
