Short breaks (respite)
We provide all permanent foster carers with 14 nights respite, known as short breaks, per year. This is in line with the support for carers policy. However, sometimes a care plan recognises that additional periods are required.
For task centred carers, it is anticipated that leave can be taken between placements. Where a child’s placement continues beyond the anticipated duration and extends beyond 12 months, 14 days of paid short breaks will be available. Any short breaks in addition to this must be part of the child's care plan.
For all children, the experience of a family holiday is recognised as valuable. Short break care should be only used on a limited basis for holiday periods. It will be for carers to determine how they want to take their short breaks, either for weekends or a longer holiday period.
Where children are placed for short breaks with other carers, we normally pay these carers the usual allowance for the child. The child's main placement allowance will continue to be paid for up to two nights only.
For three nights or more, we will stop the allowance to the main carers. This is unless the main placement is a permanent arrangement. In such a case, the main carers will continue to receive the allowance.
If the short break allowance is not used, there is no entitlement to holiday pay or carrying it forward to the next year.
It is essential for short break arrangements to be made formally through your supervising social worker (SSW).
Due to tax regulations, payments must not be made directly from one carer to another.