We are proud to announce that Derby City Council has been awarded Fostering Friendly status by the Fostering Network and is now a fostering friendly employer.
The Fostering Friendly GOV.UK scheme encourages businesses to improve support for foster carers and their children as well as making a difference to the support their own employees receive.
Almost 40 per cent of foster carers choose to work alongside fostering. According to the Fostering Network, those who do work alongside fostering find that having a supportive employer can make a huge difference to helping them foster. The number of children that require foster care is rising and through becoming a fostering friendly employer we hope to support those who decide to change a life and become a foster carer whilst continuing to work.
Judy Levitt, Deputy Head of Fostering Service at Derby City Council said:
I am delighted that Derby City Council have been able to achieve Fostering Friendly status. This will hopefully encourage employees of Derby City Council to consider fostering alongside their work commitments, knowing that they will be fully supported by the Council in their commitment to providing homes for our City’s most vulnerable children.
We also hope that by becoming a Fostering Friendly employer, this will encourage other local companies and businesses to consider how becoming foster friendly could also benefit their workforce and at the same time give back to their community.”
Kevin Williams, CEO of The Fostering Network said:
The Fostering Network is delighted to recognise Derby City Council as a Fostering Friendly employer. The council has put in place a policy to support their employees who foster, recognising the important role foster carers play for the benefit of children.
There are over 70,000 children living in foster families on any one day in the UK and every 20 minutes another child comes into care in need of a foster family. Foster carers provide them with all the love, care and stability they need to thrive and many combine this vital role with other employment. We encourage all employers to follow Derby City Council in supporting carers in this vital role”
In partnership with The Fostering Network, at Derby City Council we are celebrating and recognising Foster Care Fortnight. Foster Care Fortnight takes place between 9 May – 22 May 2022. This year we are focusing on communities and how foster carers provide children and young people with support and skills in all communities.
At Derby City Council we offer multiple types to help suit all lifestyles. You can be of any religion (or no religion), any sexual orientation, any marital status and any cultural background. The children and young people in our care are from a diverse range of backgrounds and we need foster carers from all walks of life to ensure their needs are met.
At Derby City council we are extremely proud to have been awarded Foster Friendly Status. We would also like to encourage other businesses in the city to consider becoming Foster Friendly in order to help support all employees that may be foster carers or thinking about fostering.