Four councils in the East Midlands—Derby City, Derbyshire County, Nottingham City, and Nottinghamshire County—have achieved Fostering Friendly status, recognising their efforts to support employees who are foster carers. This initiative, developed by The Fostering Network, encourages businesses to help foster carers balance their professional responsibilities with their caregiving roles.
The scheme promotes practical workplace adjustments such as paid time off for training and appointments, as well as flexible working hours. These actions are designed to make fostering more accessible for working individuals, helping foster carers manage their dual roles without compromising their careers.
The four councils are also part of a regional initiative, Foster for East Midlands, aimed at recruiting more foster carers and enhancing the quality of care across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The collaboration strives to keep children closer to their families, schools, and communities, offering them more stability and better long-term outcomes.
Businesses in the region are being urged to consider how they can support fostering, including offering flexible hours or raising awareness of fostering opportunities within their organisations. Larger-scale initiatives, such as apprenticeships or work experience placements for young people in care, can have a lasting impact on the community.
Organisations that join the Fostering Friendly scheme are provided with resources and guidance to develop supportive workplace policies and communicate their commitment publicly. This initiative not only helps foster carers but also enables businesses to strengthen their ties to the community while supporting the stability and well-being of children in care.
