Planning a holiday with a child in care is a little bit more complicated than planning a holiday for your own children.

Get Permission Early

An overnight stay in a different address requires prior agreement with the foster carer’s supervising social worker and with the local authority holding parental responsibility for the child. This needs to be agreed several weeks in advance of the proposed leave.

Sort the Passport Carefully

Foster Carers cannot apply for a child’s passport until appropriate consent has been given by the relevant persons. Often the local authority will hold parental responsibility for a child in care with the foster carer having permission from them to apply for a passport for their child.

Work Around Contact Schedules

When booking a holiday, Foster Carers must ensure that the holiday does not conflict with contact with the child’s parents or wider family and that the appropriate people have been informed and given consent.

Choose Accommodation Thoughtfully

Most Foster Carers find that Self-Catering is far better than Hotels for the looked-after children in their care. This is because the children can stick to their normal routine for meals and be off to their normal bed time.

Prepare the Child Beforehand

As mentioned earlier, a week or two before you go explain to the child what is going to happen on the trip. For example making a simple visual timetable and explaining it to them. There is more on Foster Care Neath at https://saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/neath/.

Planning ahead of a holiday means that it can be a real treat for a child in care.