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4.5.3 Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This procedure applies to day trips and holidays within and outside the UK for all Children Looked After.

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was slightly amended in October 2011 regard to the placement plan recorded on the placement Information Record and making sure all appropriate checks have been made.


Contents

  1. Holidays for Accommodated Children - Section 20 Children Act 1989
  2. Holidays for Children on Care Orders
  3. Obtaining a Passport


1. Holidays for Accommodated Children - Section 20 Children Act 1989

Arrangements for notifying and consulting the social worker about holiday plans should be agreed in the Placement Plan recorded on the Placement Information Record.

The permission of the parent(s) or person with Parental Responsibility must be obtained in writing. The following information must be provided to the parent.

  • address where holiday is taken
  • responsible adult(s) accompanying the child including adult/child ratio if group holiday
  • if the child is going with a family or person who is not known to Children’s Services, whether the appropriate checks have been made
  • dates of holiday
  • views of the child
  • if any cost to the borough, including insurance
  • any additional information

If it is a group day trip or holiday, the social worker must be satisfied that adequate health and safety precautions are taken and that there is a risk assessment in place. This should be agreed by the SW Team Manager and Fostering Team Manager if there is a known potential risk.

Children must not be taken on holiday during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances and in these situations the authorisation of the Assistant Director (Children's Specialist Services) must be obtained.

The information should then be forwarded to the Designated Manager (School or Educational Trips Abroad) for approval.


2. Holidays for Children on Care Orders

The procedure is the same as for those for Accommodated Children (see Section 1, Holidays for Accommodated Children) except that the consent of parents or person having Parental Responsibility is not required but should be obtained wherever practicable or possible. Any objections by the parent(s) should be recorded on the child’s electronic records.

The social worker should ensure that arrangements are in place through the Placement Plan/Placement Information Record to be notified well in advance of any plans for holidays abroad in order to obtain required consent.


3. Obtaining a Passport

The Social Worker should ensure that every child has an up to date passport. The United Kingdom Passport Office provides guidance for social workers seeking to obtain a passport for a Looked After Child. 

The social worker will obtain and complete the necessary application for the child or assist the child to complete the necessary application form.

The child’s social worker must know the child’s immigration status before the child goes abroad in order to safeguard the child’s position. An application for a passport will clearly establish the immigration status of a child. Social workers also need to be aware that time out of the United Kingdom for lengthy periods by non-British nationals may disadvantage a future application for British Citizenship.

The Home Office provides guidance for Social Workers applying for passport on behalf of a Looked After Child:

End