• contents
• keywords & contacts
• quick guide
• values
• contact us
• search
• working together 2010

Contents

1. Pre-activity Planning and Authorisation
2. Insurance
3. Meals
4. Transport Arrangements - General
5. Transporting Children
6. Risk Assessment
7. Adventure Activities
8. Prepare the Children
9. Accommodation
10. Sleeping Arrangements
11. Absence Whilst on an Activity

1. Pre-activity Planning and Authorisation

The term ‘Activity’ is defined in ‘Scope of this Chapter’.

The Foster Carer must identify the children who will be taking part in the activity and consider what arrangements or plans must be made, taking account of:

1. Care Plan, Placement Plan (recorded on the Placement Information Record) or other relevant plans;
2. Recent/relevant events/incidents;
3. Group dynamics, carer/child relationships;
4. Child Protection Issues;
5. Violent or other offending behaviour;
6. The healthcare or mental health needs of the children;
7. Level associated with Drug/Alcohol etc. misuse;
8. Level of disability and associated special needs.

2. Insurance

The Carer must ensure that adequate insurance arrangements are in place to cover the transportation of children.

3. Meals

The Carer must decide what financial arrangements are necessary, and agree them with the manager. The manager must decide how finances will be recorded.

The Group Leader must ensure that adequate arrangements are made for meals, breaks; taking account of the dietary, healthcare and cultural needs/choices of the children, staff and carers.

4. Transport Arrangements - General

Also see Section 5, Transporting Children

The following must be taken into account:

1. Passenger safety;
2. Competence of the driver;
3. Traffic conditions;
4. Contingency funds and arrangements in case of breakdown/emergency;
5. Weather;
6. Journey time and distance;
7. Stopping off points for long journeys and toilet breaks;
8. Appropriate seat belts or restraints must be used and fastened (see end of this section, below, for requirements);
9. The transport must have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher.

Seat Belt/Restraints

	Front Seat	Rear Seat	Whose Responsibility
Driver	Adult seat belt must be worn if fitted		Driver
Child under 3 years of age	Appropriate child restraint must be used	Appropriate child restraint must be used if available	Driver
Child aged 3 – 11 years under 1.5 metres (approximately 5ft) in height	Appropriate child restraint must be used if available; if not adult seat belt must be worn	Appropriate child restraint must be used if available; if not adult seat belt must be worn if available	Driver
Child aged 12 or 13 or younger child 1.5 metres (approximately 5ft) or more in height	Adult seat belt must be worn if available	Adult seat belt must be worn if available	Driver
Adult passengers	Adult seat belt must be worn if available	Adult seat belt must be worn if available	Passenger

Only seat belts/restraints fitted by the manufacturer of the vehicle may be used or those supplied by the authority. 

5. Transporting Children

Also see Section 4, Transport Arrangements – General

1. Children may not hold or be responsible for vehicle keys and may not steer cars or use petrol pumps;
2. All vehicle occupants must wear suitable seat belts or restraints at all times when in vehicles;
3. Children must not tamper with or use any controls except, at the discretion of the driver, the radio/stereo;
4. If it is assessed that a child may be distressed whilst in the vehicle or a child becomes distressed to the extent that the safety of the vehicle or occupants may be compromised, the vehicle must be stopped; preferably in a lay-by or suitable stopping place;
5. If the safety of the occupants is compromised, with the risk of Injury or Damage to Property, Physical Intervention may be used or the Police  should be called to assist. See Physical Intervention Procedure and Contacting the Police Procedures.

6. Risk Assessment

It is not necessary to undertake a formal Risk Assessment for an activity/trip.  However, children must not be placed in situations which expose them to an unacceptable level of risk.  Safety and protection of all concerned must always be the prime consideration.  If the risks cannot be contained or managed, the activity must not take place.

The Foster Carer should take the following factors into consideration when assessing the risks of an activity:

1. The type of visit/activity;
2. The location, routes and modes of transport;
3. Ratios of children to carers/adults;
4. The child’s age, ability, behaviour and temperament;
5. The healthcare needs of the children;
6. Seasonal conditions, weather and timing;
7. The need to monitor risks throughout the activity.

7. Adventure Activities

New Section: May 2009

If an activity holiday is proposed, the name of organisation, activities involved type of accommodation, address and phone number of organisation should be obtained.

There are a number of checks which must be made on activity holidays.

These must be undertaken with the following exception:

• If the holiday has been arranged by the child's school the school should be asked to confirm that these checks have been made and that sufficient staff or subcontracted staff will be present to supervise the children.

7.1 Organisations registered with the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority

The Social Worker/Carer should confirm that the organisation is licensed with the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority. The licence registers the organisation for sports in 4 categories (caving, trekking, mountaineering, water sports) and the conditions in which it is licensed to provide them. The Social Worker/Carer should look for:

• Licence number. This will be a double number e.g.: L1234/R5678;
• You should verify the licence by ringing the Licensing Authority (see link above);
• What sports and conditions it is licensed for.

The licence is an indication of the standard of health and safety the organisation achieves. It also indicates that police checks and references have been taken up for staff.

7.2 Organisations not registered with the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority

Some activities, which contain an element of risk fall below or outside of the licensing level and requirements. For organisations not licensed with the  Adventure Activity Licensing Authority, the following checks should be carried out:

Ask for the following:

• A list of staff and their qualifications for the activities offered;
• Whether all staff and volunteers are police/CRB checked;
• Whether references are taken up on all staff and volunteers;
• Whether the organisation undertakes formal risk assessments on the activities; ask to be sent copy/copies of the risk assessment(s). These should identify risks as well as measures and procedures by which the risks are controlled.

8. Prepare the Children

Where appropriate the foster carer should prepare children for an activity by:

1. Giving information about the proposed activity;
2. Being clear about expectations about their behaviour and the implications of poor behaviour;
3. Discussing emergency procedures, safety precautions and rendezvous procedures and potential dangers.

9. Accommodation

When visiting accommodation outside of the Foster Home, carers must ensure the safety of all children.

10. Sleeping Arrangements

Sleeping arrangements must reflect the fact that carers have considered the individual needs of and associated risks to children on the activity.

11. Absence Whilst on an Activity

If a child becomes Absent (is missing, absconded or absent without authority), it will be necessary to follow the procedures set out in the London Child Protection Procedures.

End