Help a child in need … become a Foster Carer
Do you sometimes think about fostering, only to dismiss the idea because you think you'd be ineligible to apply, or because you are not sure that you would be a success?
• People from all backgrounds can become foster carers. You can be:
• single, married, living together or
separated
• a parent or without children
• employed or on benefits
• a homeowner or live in rented accommodation.
It is important to remember that children are in care because of their family situation and through no fault of their own and many of them will have been affected by their difficult childhood experiences. Most children in care return back to their birth parents but for some children the care plan could include finding adoptive parents or long-term foster carers for them.
Fostering can be demanding but also very rewarding and enjoyable. All foster carers get a financial allowance, varying from £71 to £129 a week, depending on the age of the child, to cover the costs of looking after him or her.
A fee of around £119 a week, for each child, is also offered to foster carers looking after children with challenging behaviour. Your benefits are not affected by becoming a foster carer.
Derby City Council has around 400 children in care and around 200 foster carers but it urgently needs more foster carers living in or outside of Derby to look after children from all backgrounds and age groups.
Please contact Derby City Council’s Fostering Team on 01332 718000 for more information.