Tips on taking your foster child on holiday (Abroad)

When you become a foster carer you may be keen to give your foster children as normal a family life as possible. This can include fun family holidays, jetting off to somewhere sunny and warm to enjoy some downtime.

However, there are a few things you’ll need to sort out before you can take your foster child out of the country. Below we detail some of the biggest points you’ll have to sort out if you’re planning a holiday abroad with your foster family members.

The differences between holidaying abroad and at home

When your foster child is holidaying in the UK, whether it be with the family, with their school or with friends, there aren’t as many boxes to be ticked. As long as the getaway meets the requirements and outlines set in the child’s care plan, then all that’s needed is for you to inform your supervising social worker in advance.

When it comes to taking the child out of the country, there’s a lot more paperwork that will need to be filed. Make sure to notify your social worker well in advance, ideally in the very early stages of holiday planning. Keep them in the loop with details such as when and where you’re planning on going.

Make sure you’re legally above board

It’s extremely important that you check who has parental responsibility for your foster child. This will determine who can apply for their passport if they don’t have one or if it needs to be renewed.

Again, it’s best to check this well in advance of booking your holiday. Applying for a new passport could take time, so it’s best to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

You may also need to get a letter from the local authority of your foster child. This letter should prove that you are the foster parent of the child and show that you are parentally responsible for them while you are overseas.

Also, make sure what vaccinations may be required for the destination you plan to visit. You may not need any, but these will have to be carefully considered before booking any destinations with strict vaccination laws.

Booking suitable accommodation

Keeping your supervising social worker involved in your plans will help you book the very best flights, destination and accommodation for you and your foster child. You may also want to ask them for a written agreement around the suitability of your holiday plans, just in case.

When it comes to booking the right accommodation it will depend on your child’s individual needs. Some may need their own separate space to retreat to, some may be happy sharing a family room.

Generally, we advise that foster children have their own separate rooms, but exceptions can be made as long as it’s not to the detriment of the child or the child’s needs. Again, this is where you and your social worker can collaborate and find the best accommodation for your family.

Some carers may be entitled to holiday allowance but it’s not a standard. Make sure to check before booking your holiday what costs can be covered. This holiday allowance could help with the cost of taking the child abroad helping to pay for meals, trips, activities etc.

The main thing to remember when looking to take your foster child overseas is to plan well in advance, don’t book anything without running your social worker through all the details of your trip and making sure all contact details are up to date. Your supervising social worker will be your best friend during this process and help to make the experience smooth and stress-free, so you and your child can enjoy your time away.