The Fostering Services (Wales) Regulations 2003

Short term placements

37.—(1) This regulation applies where a responsible authority has arranged to place a child in a series of short-term placements with the same foster parent and the arrangement is such that—

(a) no single placement is to last for more than four weeks; and

(b) the total duration of the placements is not to exceed 120 days in any period of 12 months.

(2) A series of short term placements to which this regulation applies may be treated as a single placement for the purposes of these Regulations, but with the modifications set out in paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) Regulation 35 (1)(c)(i) and (ii) is to apply as if they required arrangements to be made for visits to the child on a day when he or she is in fact placed (“a placement day”)—

(a) within the first seven placement days of a series of short-term placements; and

(b) thereafter, if the series of placements continues, at intervals of not more than six months or, if the interval between placements exceeds six months, during the next placement.

(4) Regulation 41 is to apply as if it required arrangements to be made for visits to the child on a placement day, within the first seven placement days of a series of short-term placements.