Derby City Council is proposing to build on its existing Foster for East Midlands Councils partnership by joining a new national programme that will bring more of the fostering process under a shared regional model.

Cabinet will be asked to approve the Council’s participation in the Department for Education’s End-to-End Fostering Hubs programme, which aims to create 10,000 additional foster carer places by 2029.

Derby already works with three neighbouring authorities through Foster for East Midlands Councils, which provides a joint approach to attracting and engaging potential foster carers up to the point they apply.

Since it launched in March 2024, the joint hub has attracted almost 2700 enquiries from potential foster carers, and to date has approved 75 brand new fostering households, with many more on their journey to approval.

The new extended hub model will build on this so that more of the fostering journey is delivered together across the region.

The renewed regional hub will bring together the recruitment, assessment and approval of foster carers, helping to tackle the national shortage and reduce the use of high-cost residential placements.

Ongoing support will be provided through additional training, support groups and Mockingbird constellations, which consist of up to ten satellite families (fostering households) supported by a Hub Home Carer and a liaison worker.

The hub model is intended to:

  • Increase the number and retention of foster carers
  • Improve stability and outcomes for children in care
  • Reduce reliance on expensive residential care, helping council budgets
  • Make fostering processes more consistent across the region
  • Strengthen work with third-sector partners and Independent Fostering Agencies.

As part of the plans, Cabinet is also being asked to approve the delegation of regional fostering panel functions to Nottinghamshire County Council, which currently hosts Adoption East Midlands. This will allow Derby to benefit from existing regional systems, specialist expertise and consistent panel arrangements, while keeping strong oversight and safeguarding in place.

Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said: 

By building on our Foster for East Midlands Councils partnership and joining the End-to-End Fostering Hubs programme, we can recruit more foster carers, speed up the process and offer stronger support at every stage.

A more joined-up regional approach will mean more children can live in stable, loving family homes, closer to their communities, rather than in costly residential placements. It will also help us use our shared expertise and resources more effectively, delivering better outcomes for children and better value for money.

If approved, the ‘design phase’ will run from February to June 2026 and the fostering hub is expected to go live from September 2026. From then, all fostering enquiries, assessments and approvals will be managed through the hub, led by a Head of Service and overseen by a regional governance group.

Foster carers, partner councils, third-sector organisations and Independent Fostering Agencies will be involved throughout the design phase to help shape the new arrangements and support a smooth transition to the expanded regional model.