Transport
Standards & Regulations
Training, Support and Development Standards for Foster Care:
- Standard 2 - Understand your role as a foster carer.
- Standard 4 - Know how to communicate effectively.
- Standard 5 - Understand the development of children and young people.
- Standard 6 - Keep children and young people safe from harm.
Also see Money Matters and Insurance.
Contents
- Introduction
- Seat Belts/Restraints/Car Seats
- The Vehicle
- Managing Children in the Vehicle
- Mobility Allowance
1. Introduction
Children who are in your care should always be treated as part of the family and you will be expected to transport them in the same way that you would your own children.
A first aid kit and fire extinguisher must always be carried in the vehicle.
Where outdoor activities are planned, first aid kits should be carried.
Note: It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle with anyone under 18 (see GOV.UK, Smoking in vehicles). This applies when people have the windows down or the sunroof open, or are sitting in the open doorway of a car. It does not apply to e-cigarettes or a convertible car with the roof completely down.
2. Seat Belts/Restraints/Car Seats
See Child Car Seats – The Law (GOV.UK).
Use the child seat for every journey, no matter how short. Make sure the seat’s harness (if it has one) is correctly adjusted so it is quite tight, so that only one or two fingers can fit between the child’s chest and the harness. The harness buckle should not rest over the child’s tummy.
You can use your child’s car seat in the front seat of a vehicle, if it fits.
You must deactivate any frontal airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat.
3. The Vehicle
The vehicle should be roadworthy with an up to date MOT and insurance cover which includes fostered children.
4. Managing Children in the Vehicle
It is a good idea to take toys, tablet computers and books to occupy small children on long journeys.
If the vehicle has to be stopped at the side of the road or on the hard shoulder of a motorway, the hazard warning lights should be put on, all occupants should get out of the vehicle and stand well away from the road, and the emergency services must be called.
Male foster carer’s should avoid travelling alone with a foster child. If this cannot be avoided, the child should travel in the back of the car. If there are two carers with a child, it will be safer for the child to be in the front of the car rather than in the back seat with one adult.
5. Mobility Allowance
You may be able to claim mobility allowance for Disabled Children, speak to the child’s social worker about this.
