Fostering

National Fostering Fortnight

National Fostering Fortnight starts on Monday 14th May. 500 Derby children need foster carers.

We are holding a number of events across Derby for National Fostering Fortnight. Just drop-in, no appointment required.

• Wednesday 16th May, 6.00pm to 7.30pm: Derwent Neighbourhood Forum, Breadsall Hill Top Adult and Community Centre, St Andrew's View, Breadsall, Derby - Drop-in session
   
• Thursday 17th May, 9.00am to 1.30pm: Derby Customer Services Centre, 1 Albion Street, Derby - Drop-in session
   
• Friday 18th May, 11.00am to 6.30pm: Moorways Sports Centre, Moor Lane, Derby - Open day
   
• Saturday 19th May, 9.30am to 1.00pm: Derby Customer Service Centre, 1 Albion Street, Derby - Open day
   
• Thursday 24th May, 9.00am to 1.30pm: Derby Customer Service Centre, 1 Albion Street, Derby - Drop-in session
   
• Friday 25th May, 11.00am to 6.30pm: Springwood Leisure Centre, Springwood Drive, Oakwood, Derby - Open day
   
• Saturday 26th May, 10.00am to 12.45pm: Sinfin Library, Arleston Lane, Sinfin, Derby - Open day

Contents

What is Fostering?

Why do children need fostering?

Who can foster?

What is the difference between fostering and adoption?

Are there different types of fostering?

How long does it take to become a foster carer?

Do foster carers get any financial help?

Other financial help

What other help do foster carers get?

What is Fostering?

Fostering is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things that you can do to help children.

Foster carers provide care for children and young people in their own home, while their parents are unable to look after them. Most children return home, so foster carers need to be able to work with parents as well as children.

Some children cannot return home and foster carers then help children move on to adoptive parents while some other children need to stay with foster carers until they are independent.

Foster carers can choose the age and gender of the child or children they look after and how long they want to foster – this could be a few days, a few months or for a longer period. Foster carers work as part of a team with people such as social workers, teachers and health professionals to help the children they look after.

We know that deciding to become a foster carer is a big decision and we are available to answer any of your questions and give you all the support and advice you need. The most important thing is that you and everyone in your household is committed to fostering, including your children if you have them.

Why do children need fostering?

Children are in care through no fault of their own and mainly because of their family situation – some may have been abused or neglected. Foster carers look after children so that families can have time to sort out their problems which can include physical and mental ill-health issues.

Who can foster?

There is no such thing as a typical foster carer. Like the children they look after, foster carers come from all sorts of different backgrounds.

It is essential that you have a spare bedroom unless you wish to foster a baby or a toddler.

You can be:

• single, married, living as a couple, divorced or widowed
• a parent or have no children
• a homeowner or live in rented housing
• employed, retired or on benefits
• from any adult age group
• someone who has or has not got childcare experience
• with or without qualifications
• from any racial or cultural background
• living in or outside of Derby.

What is the difference between fostering and adoption?

Adoption gives children who can't live with their own family, a permanent new family.

Fostering is a way of offering children a temporary home usually until they can return to their own families. Keeping some type of contact with the child's birth family is very important whilst decisions are made about their future. The foster carer is very important in helping the child to understand and cope with the situation they find themselves in.

Are there different types of fostering?

There are many different types of fostering. Some foster carers look after babies and infants but others care for school-age children, brothers and sisters, children with special needs and disabled children. Foster carers can look after children from different age groups and backgrounds.

How long does it take to become a foster carer?

It can take around 6-8 months from first contacting us to become a foster carer. During this period a social worker will arrange meetings with you and other adults in your household to give you more information about fostering.

There will be opportunities for you to ask any questions about fostering and for us to find out more information about you. The social worker will discuss the most suitable type of fostering for you. At any stage you can decide if you want to continue your interest in fostering.

You will be asked to complete an application form and a number of references will be requested. These include references from friends and employers and a check with the Criminal Records Bureau. We will also write to your doctor to find out more about your general health.

The assessment period is made as easy as possible to fit in with your commitments and the information is communicated in a clear and easy to understand way. There are no examinations to complete and there is no fixed time period to complete the assessment. Your social worker will give you all the advice and support you need. However, attendance at various preparation courses is essential.

Do foster carers get any financial help?

The Council gives all foster carers a fostering allowance to cover the costs of looking after a child. The amount varies according to the age of the child or young person and the availability of the foster carer.

Other financial help

Foster carers who look after children with additional needs such as challenging behaviour receive a special fee ranging from £80 a week to £300 a week for each child – as well as the weekly fostering allowance.

Our long-term fostering scheme where foster carers look after disabled children with special needs and disabled children offers a fee ranging from £130 to £180 a week - as well as the weekly fostering allowance.

What other help do foster carers get?

Foster carers have access to:

• training courses to enhance their childcare skills
• a 24-hour telephone support and advice line for foster carers
• a Council leisure card that gives them, their children and the children they look after, free use of some facilities at the Council's leisure centres during weekends and other off-peak times.

Children needing Foster carers (all profiles feature models and are fictional)

• Clive is a 2 year old boy. He is from a white British background and needs a foster carer who can look after him for the next 12 months. He may return back to his birth parents or his care plan could involve finding adoptive parents for him. A foster carer will receive around £135 each week in allowances to look after him. Clive does not need his own room and a small bed will be provided.
• Essien is 5 years old and is very close to his 9 year old sister Rihanna. They are from an African ethnic background. Essien is a bright and healthy child who enjoys playing football and watching television. Rihanna likes going to school and dancing. They need foster carers to look after them for around 10 years. Foster carers need to have two spare bedrooms. A foster carer will receive a weekly payment of £470 to look after them. They need to be the only or the youngest children in the household by several years.
• Shana is 6 years old and has always lived with her 4 year old brother Jay. They are clever and energetic children from an Asian ethnic background who are doing well at school. They need a one or two parent family who can look after them for the next six to nine months. Shana and Jay may return back to their birth parents or their care plan could involve finding adoptive parents for them. A foster carer will receive around £285 each week in financial allowances to look after them. They need to be the only or the youngest children in the household by several years.
• Suzanne is 14 years old and is currently living in a ‘short stay’ children’s home. She has had a difficult childhood and this is reflected in her behaviour. Suzanne is only going to school occasionally and has low self-esteem. She has the potential to develop into a caring and responsive young person. Suzanne needs a one or two parent foster carer family who can encourage and support her for the next four years. Suzanne needs to be the only, or the youngest child in the household and needs her own bedroom. A foster carer will receive £480 each week to look after Suzanne.
• John is an active and friendly 7 year old boy from a white British ethnic background. He has a learning disability and needs to be closely supervised. He enjoys drawing, playing board games and playing in the garden. He eats and sleeps well and he will need his own bedroom. John lives with his parents but would benefit from living with a short-break foster carer for one weekend each month. His foster carer will receive a financial allowance of around £130 for looking after him from 4pm on a Friday afternoon and returning him back to his birth parents house on Sunday afternoon.
• Kate is 9 years old and is very protective of her 7 year old younger brother Tim. They have had a very difficult childhood and this is sometimes reflected in their behaviour. The children are making good progress at school and enjoy watching television and going to the park. They need long term foster carers who can look after them for around 10 years and have parenting or caring experience. The children each need their own bedroom and a foster carer will receive around £520 each week to look after them.

Fostering drop-in sessions at 1 Albion Street

Every Thursday morning from 9.00am to 1.30pm, we hold a fostering drop-in session for anyone interested in finding out more about fostering at the Derby City Council building on 1 Albion Street (opposite HMV).

You can meet a social worker to discuss confidentially any questions about fostering. By coming along to meet us it does not commit you to applying to become a foster carer, it is just an opportunity to find out more about fostering. You do not need to book an appointment, just drop in.

How can I get more information about Fostering?

Please fill in our online form or call us on 01332 718000 and we will send you a Fostering Information Pack.

Useful forms

• Fostering application form

Downloads

• Fostering - Statement of Purpose (pdf, 72kb)
• Fostering - September 2011 report (pdf, 35kb)