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Contents

1. Holidays for Accommodated Children
2. Holidays for Children on Care Orders
3. When the Court’s Permission is Required
4. Insurance
5. Vaccinations
6. Obtaining a Passport

1. Holidays for Accommodated Children

Arrangements for notifying and consulting the child’s Social worker about holiday plans should be agreed in the Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority.

The consent of the parent(s) or person with Parental Responsibility must be obtained and consent form signed. This should be used to provide the following information:

• Dates of holiday;
• Address where holiday is taken;
• 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;
• Responsible adult(s) accompanying the child including adult/child ratio if group holiday;
• Views of the child;
• If any cost to Manx Care, including insurance;
• Any additional information.

If it is a group day trip or holiday, the social worker must be satisfied that adequate health and safety precautions are taken.

Children must not be taken on holiday during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances that would be approved by the social worker’s team manager and the Head of School. Requests must be made in writing.

2. Holidays for Children on Care Orders

The procedure is the same as for those children who are Accommodated Children, except that the consent of the parents or person having Parental Responsibility is not required but should be obtained wherever practicable or possible. Any objections by the parent(s) should be recorded on the child's electronic records.

The child’s social worker should ensure that arrangements are in place through the Placement Plan; early notification of any plans for holidays abroad assists the social worker in obtaining consent.

3. When the Court’s Permission is Required

If the child is the subject of a Care Order and the holiday abroad is for more than one month, the social worker must make an application to the appropriate Court.

If the holiday is authorised by the Court, the holiday should be included in the Placement Plan.

4. Insurance

4.1 Medical Treatment during visits to UK and EEC Countries

The Isle of Man and the UK have a reciprocal agreement in place where Isle of Man residents visiting the UK, have the assurance of receiving free emergency health care.

Although medical treatment is free in the UK, repatriation (return travel to someone’s home country) has never been included as part of the reciprocal agreement and this remains the case today. Because of this, all Isle of Man residents who travel to the UK (including on business unless they work in the UK for a UK company) should ensure that they have adequate insurance in place in the event of repatriation being required, as this can be a considerable expense ranging from the cost of a ferry ticket, to the hire of a private Air Ambulance, which can cost as much as £20,000.

Private medical cover and insurance cover is recommended for all trips off island.

5. Vaccinations

Some children may need additional vaccinations depending on where the child is travelling to, how long they are staying, what they will be doing, and if the child is travelling from a country other than the UK.

The child’s social worker should ask the child’s doctor which vaccines and medicines are required. If the child requires additional vaccinations e.g. Hepatitis A, then the child’s social worker must obtain appropriate consent and make arrangements for the child to have the required vaccinations within the recommended timescales.

6. Obtaining a Passport

The child’s social worker will obtain and complete the necessary application for the child or assist them to complete the necessary application form.

The Isle of Man Passport Office provides Guidance for those seeking to obtain a passport for a Child. Please see Cabinet Office guidance on passport applications for children.

The foster carer must ensure that any ID/passport documents are safely and securely stored.

End