Holidays and overnight stays form part of normal family life and should, wherever consistent with the child’s care plan, placement plan and any legal restrictions, be supported to enable children and young people to participate in positive family experiences.
In line with the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards, foster carers must not arrange any holiday, overnight stay or travel abroad without first considering the child’s individual needs, history, age, understanding and welfare, and obtaining any required permissions from the responsible authority and, where applicable, any person with parental responsibility.
A risk assessment should be completed for any holiday or overnight stay where there are identified risks or where additional planning is required, and suitable arrangements must be made for accommodation, supervision, health needs, routines and contact. The child’s safety and wellbeing must remain paramount at all times, and foster carers should seek guidance from their Supervising Social Worker before making bookings or finalising plans.
When deciding on whether a child looked after can stay overnight or go on holidays with relatives or travel abroad with the carers abroad, the following factors must be considered:
- Whether there are any relevant restrictions contained for exceptional reasons in the child’s care plan, including the placement plan.
- Whether there are any court orders which restrict the child from making a particular overnight stay, visit or holiday.
- Whether there are any factors in the child’s past experiences or behaviour which would preclude the overnight stay, visit or holiday.
- Whether there are any grounds for concern that the child may be at significant risk in the household concerned or from the activities proposed.
- The age and level of understanding of the child concerned.
- What is known about the reasons for the overnight stay, visit or holiday.
- The length of the stay.
Accommodation
The suitability of accommodation must always be considered when planning holidays or overnight stays, and foster carers should ensure that arrangements are appropriate to the child’s age, needs, history, and sense of privacy and safety. Where a child is expected to have their own bedroom at home, any holiday accommodation should, as far as possible, reflect those needs and avoid unnecessary sharing of sleeping space unless this has been considered and agreed as suitable by the placing authority. Foster carers must discuss proposed accommodation with their Supervising Social Worker before booking, so that any risks or issues can be considered in line with the child’s care plan, placement plan, and welfare needs.
Keeping Foster Child Safe
Children looked after personal safety parameters will also have an impact on the type of activities carers choose to include in their holiday.
There will be lots of fun things they can do together but along with careful planning and consideration of suitable undertakings, little ones and even older children may need extra reassurance over the course of the holiday. For example, if travelling abroad children may need carers and Social Workers to explain cultural norms they are not familiar with so that they feel more at ease.
The agency promotes and supports foster carers in taking children in their care on holidays with them, whether it be abroad or within the UK, whether it be staying in a hotel or in a relative’s home, children should feel and be included in family events. If an opportunity arises, agreement from the child’s social worker must be obtained at the earliest opportunity. All relevant and vital information including the completion of the ‘Holidays and Overnight Stays Risk Assessment’ must be completed and shared with the child social worker.
If a holiday involves travel abroad, written consent of the Local Authority Child Social Worker or of a person with Parental Responsibility is needed beforehand.
Quick checklist before completing a Holidays and Overnight Stays Risk Assessment:
- Is there an agreement in place between the Local Authority Child Social Worker and the agency to allow the holiday?
- Has the Local Authority Child Social Worker received the exact dates and destination/accommodation details?
- Has the Local Authority Child Social Worker been notified who else will be staying in the holiday home if relevant?
- Are room-sharing arrangements clear and acceptable, considering the foster child’s background and history and who else is going or going to be there?
- Are any vaccinations required and if so permission obtained from the relevant professionals? Local Authority Child Social Worker and or, birth parents where appropriate.
- Has a letter of consent been obtained from the Local Authority Child Social Worker for passport control as this will be expected when taking a foster child abroad.
- For holidays abroad bear in mind travel insurance should cover the whole family including foster children.
- Are there any issues to consider when planning/ preparing for the holiday for example an autistic child may be more impacted by the change of scenery, sleeping arrangements and daily routine than other children.
- Ensure foster carers take any medication, creams, comfort toys, and contact numbers for social workers and the Emergency Duty Team in case of out of hour’s issues.
Once all the above is completed, a Holidays and Overnight Stays Risk Assessment must be completed and sign by all relevant parties and shared with the Local Authority and the Foster Carers. The Holidays and Overnight Stays Risk Assessment must be saved onto PA Group Foster Carer records.
