Sign in Subscribe
County councils

East Midlands Councils Achieve Fostering Friendly Status, Promoting Support for Foster Carers

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Nottinghamshire County Council have all achieved Fostering Friendly status, recognizing their commitment to supporting employees who provide care to children and young people through fostering. This achievement highlights the councils' shared belief that foster carers should be empowered to continue their careers while making a vital difference in the lives of children.

The Fostering Friendly scheme, developed by The Fostering Network, recognizes employers who support foster carers in the workplace. It encourages practical actions such as offering paid time off for fostering-related training and appointments, as well as providing flexible working arrangements to help foster carers balance their caring role with their jobs. This support helps make fostering a more accessible and realistic option for working people, while also building a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The four councils (Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Nottinghamshire County Council) have achieved Fostering Friendly status, recognizing their commitment to supporting foster carers.
  • The Fostering Friendly scheme, developed by The Fostering Network, encourages employers to provide practical support to foster carers, including paid time off for fostering-related training and appointments, and flexible working arrangements.
  • Foster carers are essential in providing care to children and young people, and their contributions should be valued and supported in the workplace.
  • The Foster for East Midlands Councils initiative aims to recruit more foster carers and improve consistency of support and training across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
  • Businesses across the East Midlands are being encouraged to consider how they can support fostering in ways that suit their capacity and culture.
  • Local employers can explore offering benefits such as flexible hours or discounts for foster families, and hosting or supporting community events related to fostering.

Statistics:

  • $0 - There is no mention of a specific number or statistic related to the cost of supporting foster carers.
  • 100% - All four councils (Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Nottinghamshire County Council) have achieved Fostering Friendly status.
  • 2024 - The Foster for East Midlands Councils initiative was launched in this year.
  • 30.33 132 950 - The phone number for the Foster for East Midlands team.
  • hello@fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk - The email address for the Foster for East Midlands team.

Sources:

  • Derby City Council
  • Derbyshire County Council
  • Nottingham City Council
  • Nottinghamshire County Council
  • The Fostering Network
  • Foster for East Midlands Councils

Read more