There are hundreds of children in Derby who cannot be looked after by their own family and you could make a real difference to their lives. You could be one of the foster carers who change those children’s lives. Fostering is an enriching and rewarding experience for you, your family and the children you will care for.

At Derby City Council, we offer several fostering options to help fit most people’s lifestyles:

  • Short-term fostering: In this role you will care for a child full time in your home. The length of stay can vary. This could be anything from an overnight stay to a period of several months.
  • Long-term fostering: Sometimes a child cannot return home and adoption is not possible. As a long-term foster carer you will provide children with a loving and stable home, nurturing their development and preparing them for independence when they turn 18.
  • Respite fostering: This is when you look after a child at weekends or set holidays. This gives birth parents or other foster carers a break from providing full-time care.
  • Supported Lodging fostering: Supported Lodgings is an opportunity for you to offer space, support and care to a young person aged 16 – 21 years (or 25 years if still in education) in your home. 
  • Fostering PLUS: Derby's Fostering PLUS is a scheme for young people moving from residential care into foster family life. The young people are likely to have complex needs requiring a higher level of care, support and nurturance to make a real difference to their lives and future. This is a full time, self employed role earning up to 40k a year.

When you become a foster carer with Derby City Council, you are not only financially supported but you will also be offered a 24/7 fostering helpline, training, Plus One Scheme, Derby Active Leisure Card, and much more.

Councillor John Whitby, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills, said:

If you have the room in your home and heart, please get in touch with our fostering team to discuss how fostering could work for you. There are children and young people in Derby who are in desperate need of the support and nurturing that foster carers can offer.

With our multiple fostering options, there is likely to be an option that could fit your lifestyle. If you are interested, you can contact our fostering team via email or phone call. You can also come along to one of our free fostering information events to speak directly with our team and also learn more from our current foster carers.”

You can learn more about fostering on our webpage.

Our next free fostering information event is on Tuesday 12 September 2023 from 6pm – 8pm in the Alice Wheeldon room in the Derby City Council House. You can book on to this event on our webpage.