Holidays
Taking holidays is part of family life and there is an expectation that if you are going away on holiday, you will take foster children with you unless there are extenuating circumstances. It is expected that children will not miss school to go on holiday.
It is essential that you inform your Fostering Social Worker and the child’s Social Worker well in advance of any holidays. If the child is ‘accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 89,’ you will need the consent of the birth parents and anyone else that holds parental responsibility, whether the holiday is in this country or abroad.
If you plan to go abroad and the child needs a passport you need to discuss this with the child’s Social Worker well in advance of the date to allow sufficient time for this to be processed. You will need to have a letter signed by a Senior Manager giving permission for the child to leave the country.
It is important that you discuss your holiday plans with foster children, to prepare them for going away and to reassure them that, where appropriate, they will be able to keep contact with their parents.
A set Holiday Allowance is paid annually and is provided to assist you in taking the child on holiday. If you are not going on holiday you must talk to your fostering social worker about how the money will be used to provide activities, outings or events for the child during the summer holidays. In situations where no additional activities are provided the holiday allowance will be recouped.
If you experience problems on holiday, please call the child’s Social Worker and EDS if out of office hours.
There may be situations when it is not possible to take foster children with you on holiday. You must discuss this with your Fostering Social Worker and the child’s Social Worker well in advance so that alternative arrangements can be made.