3.5.2 Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This procedure applies to all holidays and school trips outside the UK for all Looked After Children. School Trips within the UK Procedure, applies to school trips within the UK. Also see Activities and Transporting Children in Foster Care Procedure, which contains procedures on the planning of Activities and transporting children
Contents
- Holidays in the UK
- Holidays or School Trips Abroad
- When the Courts Permission is Required
- Obtaining a Passport
1. Holidays in the UK
Where there is a proposal for a Looked After Child to go on holiday in the UK, the child’s social worker must obtain full information about the holiday, and seek the views of the child and parent as soon as possible.
If the parents consent, their consent must be obtained in writing.
Where the social worker, parent and staff/carer agree to the proposed holiday, the holiday can be approved and should be included in the child’s Placement Information Record.
Where parental consent is not given, the social worker should obtain legal advice as to whether the holiday can go ahead. Where the social worker considers that the holiday should go ahead despite the parents’ opposition and legal advice supports this, the approval of the social worker’s manager to the holiday should be sought. The request for such approval should include the legal advice given.
Written confirmation of the Manager’s decision, together with the reasons, should be provided to the parent.
If approved, the holiday should be included in the Placement Information Record.
Where the holiday will interrupt contact arrangements between the child and parents, consideration should also be given to including in the Placement Information Record additional contact before and after the holiday.
2. Holidays or School Trips Abroad
Children must not be taken on holiday during term time.
Where there is a proposal for a Looked After Child to go on holiday or a school trip abroad, the child’s social worker must obtain full information about the holiday, and seek the views of the child and parent as soon as possible.
If the parents consent, their consent must be obtained in writing.
The social worker should seek the approval of the Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips/Holidays Abroad to the holiday.
The written request for such approval should include information about the length of and arrangements for the holiday; the wishes of the child; the views of the parent; the views of the staff/carer; the likely cost and how it is to be funded. The request for approval may be accompanied by a request for financial support and should always be accompanied by the child’s up to date Care Plan, Placement Information Record and, where applicable, Child Protection Plan and Pathway Plan.
Where parental consent is not given, the social worker should obtain legal advice as to whether the holiday can go ahead. Where the legal advice indicates the holiday is possible, the Designated Manager’s (School or Educational Trips) approval to the holiday can still be sought. The request for such approval should include the legal advice given.
Written confirmation of the Designated Manager’s decision, together with the reasons, should be provided to the parent.
If approved, the holiday arrangements should be included in the Placement Plan.
Where the holiday will interrupt contact arrangements between the child and parents, consideration should also be given to including in the Placement Information Record additional contact before and after the holiday.
3. When the Courts Permission is Required
If the child is the subject of a Care Order and the holiday abroad is for more than one month, an application must also be made to the appropriate Court for the Court’s permission to allow the child to go abroad if the parent’s written agreement is not obtained.
Where a Court Order is required, the social worker should contact Legal Services as soon as possible for the necessary application to be made and advise the parents of the intended application.
If the holiday is authorised by the Court, the holiday should be included in the Placement Information Record and additional contact arranged as above.
4. Obtaining a Passport
Amended: May 2009
In the past babies and children could be included on a parent or guardian's passport.
The law has now changed and babies and children up to 16 who are not already on a parent's or guardian's passport must have their own child passport if they are going to travel abroad.
There are additional arrangements that must be made in relation to Looked After Children (Children in Care).
To find out more, see the following:
- The Home Office Identity and Passport Service (IPS) website for applying for Child Passports
- Guidance issued by the IPS for applying for passports on behalf of Looked After Children.
Before applying for a passport, it will be necessary to consult the parent(s) and seek the approval of the Designated Manager (Passports), in writing.
The written request for such approval should include the reason for the request, the wishes of the child; the views of the parent; the views of the staff/carer where applicable; and the child's up to date Care Plan, Placement Information Record and, where applicable, Pathway Plan.
Where the Designated Manager (Passports) gives authority for a passport to be obtained for a child, this must be confirmed in writing. The social worker must inform the parent of the decision.
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