Overnight stays - sleepovers

Overnight stays with friends play an important part in some children’s lives. It is important that children in foster care are able to experience this in the same way as their peers. Children in care should experience the same opportunities to stay overnight with friends, when carers consider the arrangement appropriate, in the same way as for their own children

There is no requirement for friends’ parents to be DBS checked for overnight sleepovers.

Government guidance expects foster carers to make the same judgements, in giving or refusing permission on each occasion, as parents would normally make, based on a reasonable assessment of any known risks in staying in a particular household or in staying overnight. Carers are not required to refer this decision to the child’s social worker unless there are exceptional circumstances or where there are restrictions on overnight stays from a court order or are included in the child’s Care Plan and Placement Plan.

Decisions on overnight stays should in most circumstances be delegated to Foster Carers and arrangements for such decisions written into the Placement Plan.

The guidance expects Foster Carers to make the same judgements in giving or refusing permission on each occasion as parents would normally make, based on reasonable assessment of any known risks in staying in a particular household or staying overnight. Carers are expected to have contact details of the household, to make contact to confirm arrangements and ensure that the foster child has their contact details.

Whilst carers are not expected to seek permission from parents or Social Workers if children do have overnight stays, it is important to inform parents, if appropriate and the Social Worker that these have taken place.