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Leisure and holidays
Parents should be consulted about activities wherever possible and appropriate. Where obtained, consent must be written consent.
If the parents refuse to give permission this must be explored. If it is considered that permission is being withheld unreasonably and it is in the child's best interests to go on the holiday or take part in the activity then legal advice should be sought.
All carers should be encouraged to support the children in their care to engage in sport and leisure activities.
Risk assessment
A risk assessment should be carried out for any planned trip or activity giving consideration, as appropriate, to:
- Previous assessed level of vulnerability
- Age and ability of child
- Time of day or night
- History of self harm, if any,
- Physical disability or learning difficulty
- State of mind at the time of the activity
- Group behaviour
- Any guidance within the child's care plan
- Measures should be put in place to reduce risk wherever possible
- Staff child ratio according to assessed need
- Identification of appropriate behaviour management techniques that may be necessary to ensure the safety and well being of the child and others
- Any other special requirements
- The social worker should not let any activity take place unless they are satisfied that reasonable safety systems are in place and this decision should be made with consideration of the child's age, ability and history.
Consent
Where a child is accommodated any activity considered potentially hazardous cannot go ahead without parental permission. The child should not be taken on any holiday without the prior agreement of the parent.
Where a child is on a community parenting order and the parent gives consent, an activity considered potentially hazardous can go ahead with the agreement of a social worker (or above). If the parent refuses permission, the activity may go ahead only if it is considered to be in the child's best interest and a service manager (or above) agrees.
Holidays
Children who are looked after should have access to a range of leisure and recreational experiences including excursions, activity-based trips and holidays. All holidays, excepting those arranged by the school, should ideally take place during the school breaks. When the proposal is for the holiday to take place in term time, permission should be sought from an service manager.
If any other adults will be taking part in the holiday who are not normally part of the child's placement then names and addresses of those people should be obtained and services for children and young people's records should be checked.
There should not be an automatic acceptance that children looked after will always be allowed to partake in school trips. The reasons for the trip, the child's wishes and the cost should all be considered.
Where a holiday outside of Guernsey is proposed a holiday authorisation form should be prepared (signed by the director or deputy) which should include full details of the proposed holiday including:
- dates
- destination
- accommodation and sleeping arrangements
- day to day care of the child
- travel arrangements
- holiday insurance arrangements
- proposed activities
- person traveling or staying with child
- contact details and telephone numbers
- legal status of the child
- permission or view of parent or person with parental responsibility.
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