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18 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK
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135 <div class="panel-body">
136 <h1>
136 Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 This procedure applies to holidays and school/organisational trips within and outside the UK
for all Children in Care.
144 </p>
145 <p class="bold">
145 RELATED CHAPTERS
146 </p>
147 <p>
147 <a href="p_del_auth_fc_resid.html">
147 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers Procedure
147 </a>
147 </p>
148 <p>
148 <a href="p_overnigt_stays.htm">
148 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays) Procedure
148 </a>
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149 <a href="p_contact_parents.html">
149 Family Time with Parents/Adults and Siblings Procedure
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150 </div>
157 <div class="section">
157 <h2 id="hol_lac">
157 1. Holidays for Children in Care in the UK
157 </h2>
158 <p>
158 Where there is a proposal for a Child in Care to go on holiday in the UK, the child's social
worker must obtain full information about the holiday.
158 </p>
159 <p>
159 This will include:
159 </p>
160 <ul>
161 <li>
161 Proposed dates and duration of the holiday;
161 </li>
162 <li>
162 Address(es)/contact details of the holiday location/what type of holiday;
162 </li>
163 <li>
163 Insurance details;
163 </li>
164 <li>
164 Who will be present on the holiday e.g. names of other children and other adults;
164 </li>
165 <li>
165 If the holiday involves staying with friends or relatives, their names and addresses;
165 </li>
166 <li>
166 Emergency contacts;
166 </li>
167 <li>
167 Any risk assessments that may be required, which should include any health or behaviour
issues of the child as well as the holiday environment itself.
167 </li>
168 </ul>
169 <p>
169 The child's social worker should seek the views of the child and parent/persons who have
Parental Responsibility as soon as practicable.
169 </p>
170 <p>
170 If the parents consent, their consent must be obtained in writing.
170 </p>
171 <p>
171 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 Plan.
171 </p>
172 <p>
172 For children who are in a long term placement and there is agreement with the Children's
Services that the carers have Delegated Authority, (see
172 <a href="p_del_auth_fc_resid.html">
172 Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers Procedure
172 </a>
172 ), depending upon the nature of the delegation agreed, it may be the case that the carers
are able to make such decisions themselves. However, good practice should ensure that
decisions by the carers are shared in a timely way with their Supervising Social Worker
and/or child's allocated practitioner. The parent/s should be advised as appropriate –
especially if the holiday affects contact arrangements.
172 </p>
173 <p>
173 Children must not be taken on holiday during term time unless there are exceptional
circumstances that would be approved by the Social Worker's Manager for the child and the
Head of School. This will be kept under review following a recent high court judgement.
173 </p>
174 <p>
174 Requests must be made in writing. (Note that under the Education (Pupil Registration)
(England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, the previous ability of headteachers to grant leave
of absence for the purpose of a holiday during term time in 'special circumstances' of up to
ten school days leave per year has been removed. The 2013 Regulations make clear that
headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are
'exceptional circumstances'.)
174 </p>
175 <p>
175 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.
175 </p>
176 <p>
176 Written confirmation of the manager's decision, together with the reasons, should be
provided to the parent.
176 </p>
177 <p>
177 Where the holiday will involve additional costs, the social worker should obtain approval
for the costs from the relevant manager before the holiday can be agreed.
177 </p>
178 <p>
178 If approved, the holiday should be included in the child's Placement Plan.
178 </p>
179 <p>
179 Where the holiday will interrupt contact arrangements between the child and parents,
consideration should also be given to arranging additional contacts before and after the
holiday.
179 </p>
180 </div>
181 <div class="section1">
181 </div>
187 <div class="section">
187 <h2 id="hol_lac_out">
187 2. Holidays for Children in Care Outside the UK
187 </h2>
188 <h3>
188 2.1
188 <a id="hol_acc">
188 </a>
188 Holidays for Accommodated Children
188 </h3>
189 <p>
189 Arrangements for notifying and consulting the social worker about holiday plans should be
agreed in the Placement Plan.
189 </p>
190 <p>
190 The consent of the parent(s) or person with Parental Responsibility must be obtained and
consent form signed.
190 </p>
191 <p>
191 The child's social worker must obtain full information about the holiday/trip. This will
include:
191 </p>
192 <ul>
193 <li>
193 Address(es)/contact details of the holiday location/type of holiday;
193 </li>
194 <li>
194 Responsible adult(s) accompanying the child including adult/child ratio if group holiday;
194 </li>
195 <li>
195 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;
195 </li>
196 <li>
196 Dates of holiday;
196 </li>
197 <li>
197 Emergency contacts;
197 </li>
198 <li>
198 Views of the child;
198 </li>
199 <li>
199 If any cost to the authority, including insurance;
199 </li>
200 <li>
200 Any additional information.
200 </li>
201 </ul>
202 <p>
202 NOTE: If there are any issues such as the holiday destination experiencing political unrest,
concern that the child may not return as planned or other circumstances which may place the
child at risk, these should be highlighted to the social worker's Manager. A check should be
undertaken through
202 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
202 Foreign Office - Foreign Travel Advice
202 </a>
202 and a balanced decision regarding the outcome made.
202 </p>
203 <p>
203 If it is a group day trip or holiday, the social worker must be satisfied that adequate
health and safety precautions including appropriate risk assessments are taken and in place.
203 </p>
204 <p>
204 Children must not be taken on holiday during term time. In exceptional circumstances this
should be approved by Designated Manager who should consult with the Virtual Head of School.
Requests must be made in writing.
204 </p>
205 <h3>
205 2.2 Holidays for Children on Care Orders
205 </h3>
206 <p class="bold">
206 Holidays of Less Than One Month
206 </p>
207 <p>
207 The procedure is the same as for those for Accommodated Children (see
207 <a href="#hol_acc">
207 Section 2.1, Holidays for Accommodated Children
207 </a>
207 ) except that the consent of the parents or person having Parental Responsibility is not
required but should be sought and obtained wherever practicable or possible. Any objections
by the parent(s) should be recorded on the child's electronic records.
207 </p>
208 <p>
208 The social worker should ensure that arrangements are in place through the Placement Plan to
be notified well in advance of any plans for holidays abroad in order to obtain required
consent wherever practicable or possible.
208 </p>
209 <p class="bold">
209 Holidays of One Month or More
209 </p>
210 <p>
210 This requires either the written consent of every person who has parental responsibility
for the child, or the leave of the court.
210 </p>
211 <p>
211 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.
211 </p>
212 <p>
212 It is usual for the court to require evidence of the views of those with Parental
Responsibility or the efforts made to obtain them.
212 </p>
213 <p>
213 If the holiday is authorised by the Court, the holiday should be included in the Placement
Plan and a copy of the court order giving leave for the holiday should also be given to the
foster carer.
213 </p>
214 <h3>
214 2.3 Holidays for Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers
214 </h3>
215 <p>
215 The procedure is the same as for Accommodated Children (see
215 <a href="#hol_acc">
215 Section 2.1, Holidays for Accommodated Children
215 </a>
215 ) except that:
215 </p>
216 <ul>
217 <li>
217 Approval is unlikely if the child/young person wishes to go on their own and/or to a
destination which could call into question the integrity of their original claim for
asylum;
217 </li>
218 <li>
218 The child's social worker would have to endorse the holiday by signing the consent form.
218 </li>
219 </ul>
220 <span class="bold">
220 Note
220 </span>
220 : The social worker should check as to whether there are any restrictions with regards to the
child/young person's ability to travel outside the country. A young person may not be able to
travel abroad with their foster carer if the trip was planned at the last minute, as travel
documents would have to be applied for.
221 <h3>
221 2.4 Insurance
221 </h3>
222 <p class="bold">
222 <a id="medical">
222 </a>
222 Medical Treatment during visits to EU/EEA Countries
222 </p>
223 <ul>
224 <li>
224 Children travelling within EU/EEA countries and Switzerland will be covered for medical
treatment through a European Health Insurance Card. An application form can be downloaded
from or be collected from the post office. The Department of Health and Social Care also
provides health advice for travellers. For children under 16 years old, the form needs to
be completed by the parent(s) or foster carer(s) and be submitted as a family application.
Young people over 16 can apply for a
224 <a
href="https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-he
alth-insurance-card/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
224 European Health Insurance Card
224 </a>
224 in their own name.
224 </li>
225 </ul>
226 <p class="bold">
226 Private Medical Insurance Cover or Insurance Cover for Holidays
226 </p>
227 <ul>
228 <li>
228 In situations where medical cover is required at short notice, it is suggested that
private insurance cover is taken out;
228 </li>
229 <li>
229 The insurance referred to above in
229 <a href="#medical">
229 Medical Treatment during visits to EEC Countries
229 </a>
229 only covers a child for medical treatment and not for loss of luggage, cover for
cancellation of the holiday etc. Therefore a private insurance policy is needed for a
child travelling abroad.
229 </li>
230 </ul>
231 <h3>
231 2.5 Obtaining a Passport
231 </h3>
232 <ul>
233 <li>
233 The United Kingdom Passport Agency provides
233 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-notes-for-social-services-depart
ments-when-applying-for-passports-on-behalf-of-looked-after-children" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
233 Guidance for Social Workers seeking to obtain a passport for a Looked After Child
233 </a>
233 ;
233 </li>
234 <li>
234 If Children's Services have previously applied for a passport on the child's behalf and
are applying for a renewal or extension, a letter outlining the circumstances mentioned
above stating that these have not changed is sufficient. In these circumstances there is
no need to complete the application form. This should be signed by the
234 <a href="pr_desg_man.html#passports">
234 Designated Manager (Passports)
234 </a>
234 ;
234 </li>
235 <li>
235 Where there is a proposal for a child to go on holiday abroad and the child does not
currently hold a valid passport, the request to the Designated Manager (Passports) in
relation to the holiday should include a written request for the authority to obtain a
passport for the child;
235 </li>
236 <li>
236 If it is an urgent application where an application is made in person, the social worker
must provide evidence of their identity and a signed letter of authorisation from the
Designated Manager (Passports);
236 </li>
237 <li>
237 Where the child requires a passport for any other reason, the approval of the Designated
Manager (Passports) should be sought. 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. 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;
237 </li>
238 <li>
238 The social worker will obtain and complete the necessary application for the child or
assist the child to complete the necessary application form.
238 </li>
239 </ul>
240 </div>
241 <div class="section1">
241 </div>
247 <div class="section">
247 <h2 id="org_trips">
247 3. School / Organisational Trips of up to 4 days Away
247 </h2>
248 <p>
248 The social worker should ensure risk assessments have been conducted.
248 </p>
249 <p>
249 The child's participation in school/organisational trips should be considered at the time of
the placement, and the consultation required before they can be agreed should be included in
the Placement Plan.
249 </p>
250 <p>
250 Where a child is placed with the parents, the Placement Plan will usually provide that a
school trip of up to 4 days can be agreed by the social worker in consultation with the
school and the parent.
250 </p>
251 <p>
251 Where a child is placed in foster care or residential care, the Placement Plan will usually
authorise the staff/carer to agree to the child going on school or other organisational
trips of up to 4 days away without prior consultation with the social worker or the parent -
see
251 <a href="p_overnigt_stays.htm">
251 Social Visits (Including Overnight Stays) Procedure
251 </a>
251 . If the staff/carer have not been so authorised, the child's social worker and parents must
be consulted before agreement can be given.
251 </p>
252 Where parental consent is not given, the social worker should consult their Manager and obtain
legal advice as necessary. Where the Manager agrees to the child going on the trip despite
parental opposition, the reasons must be recorded and explained to the parent.
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