Can I take a holiday during a short-term foster placement?

A holiday during a short-term foster placement is only workable when it fits the child’s care plan, the placement agreement and the requirements of the fostering service and placing authority. The decision is based on the individual child’s needs, the proposed travel arrangements and whether continuity of care can be maintained, rather than on a general rule that applies to every placement.

Before making or confirming plans, the key points to consider include:

• The child’s stability: a change of surroundings may be difficult for a child who has recently entered care. Their age, experiences, behaviour, health, additional needs and relationship with you will all be relevant.
• Existing commitments: contact with parents or relatives, health appointments, education, court hearings, therapeutic work and other arrangements may need to continue during the placement.
• The placement agreement: this should identify responsibilities, permissions and practical arrangements. Any proposed change to the child’s usual routine should be considered alongside this information.
• The destination and length of the trip: a short UK break may raise different issues from overseas travel. The distance, accommodation, transport, activities and access to medical care will need to be assessed.
• The child’s views: where appropriate, the child should be helped to understand the plans and express how they feel about travelling or staying somewhere unfamiliar.

If the child is travelling with you, additional checks may be needed. These can include permission to take the child outside the UK, passport or other travel documents, arrangements for medical treatment, suitable travel insurance and details of who holds parental responsibility. Foster carers should not arrange international travel on the assumption that their usual day-to-day authority covers every travel decision. The fostering service or placing authority should confirm what consent and documentation are required.

It is also important to consider whether the holiday itself is appropriate for the child. Activities involving water, heights, animals, extreme sports or long periods of travel may require specific risk assessments. Accommodation should provide suitable sleeping arrangements, privacy and supervision. You may also need to explain the child’s routines, medication, dietary requirements and any safety concerns to people involved in the trip.

If you have a holiday booked before you are approved or before a placement is offered, tell the fostering service at the earliest opportunity. This allows the dates to be recorded and helps the matching process take account of your availability. A placement should not be accepted simply because a holiday has already been paid for; the proposed arrangements need to be agreed in advance and recorded clearly.

Where you cannot provide the child’s care for part of the placement, a formal respite arrangement may be considered. The person providing that care must be approved and suitable for the child, with the necessary information, permissions and handover arrangements in place. Informal care from friends or relatives is not automatically an acceptable substitute for an agreed fostering arrangement.

Discuss practical matters before final approval, including:

• who will be responsible for the child at each stage of the journey;
• how contact with family members will be maintained;
• what information and medication must travel with the child;
• what to do if the child becomes unwell or distressed;
• how emergencies will be managed away from home;
• which travel, accommodation or child-related costs are covered and which you would pay yourself.

Do not book non-refundable travel or tell a child that a holiday is definitely happening until the required people have approved the arrangements. Plans may need to change if the child’s circumstances alter, a placement ends sooner than expected or a new safeguarding or care need arises. Keeping the child’s welfare and agreed care arrangements at the centre of the decision will help you understand whether a particular holiday can go ahead during a short-term placement.