As a foster carer, you may want to go on vacation with your foster children from time to time. Holidays are a wonderful experience to gift any child, and children in care can definitely gain a lot from the whole adventure. There will be some strategic planning that needs to happen, but a holiday is as attainable with a foster child as it is without. So, if you were thinking about booking a trip, you absolutely should, and here are five tips for managing the whole process.
Talk to the Social Workers
The first thing you must do as a foster carer is to ask your lead social worker for permission. They may have to cross reference the wider appointment diary for things like contact arrangements with birth families and any key hearings or training in the first instance. They will then need to be involved every step of the way so they are better able to conduct a thorough risk assessment.
Talk to Your Foster Child
When everything has been approved (in principle) by your social working team, it is time to broach the subject with your foster child. There is a good chance they may be excited by the idea, especially if the placement is well established. They could have some great insight into what they would want to do and what you could all do together as a unit.
Keep Them Busy
Your role as a foster carer is about more than just keeping a child safe. You essentially fulfill a lot of the roles of a mainstream parent, and a big part of this will be in the entertainment and activities you choose to do together. The foster carer allowance, which you can read more about at thefca.co.uk, can help out in this respect, and keeping them busy during the vacation is definitely a good way to stave off any unwanted tension. This is a strong method for finding a resolution and preventing conflict before the opportunity comes about.
Pick a Safe and Comfortable Destination
Where you choose to go will make or break the whole trip. Going abroad might feel a bit daunting at first, so it is quite typical to opt for a staycation over all the other options. It all depends on who you are fostering and what their need profile is too as to where you might want to explore location wise. Choosing a child-friendly destination is the safest bet regardless as it means there will always be a boredom buster close by and things will feel generally more comfortable.
Be Mindful of Anxiety
Going away might be all the fun and frivolity when you actually get there, but the build-up can be a little tense for everyone. Your foster child is no different there. They are bound to have some anxiety in the lead up to leaving whether it’s around packing or going to a new place, it’s your job to recognise the signs and navigate them gently.
Going on vacation with your foster children is a perfectly reasonable thing to do as a carer. Holidays are a big enrichment opportunity and can bring you closer together as a team as well.
