Foster for East Midlands Councils is highlighting the different types of foster care available and encouraging local people to find out how they could make a difference.

Fostering is not just one role. There are different ways to support children and young people, depending on your skills, experience and personal circumstances.

Foster for East Midlands Councils is a partnership between Derby City, Derbyshire, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire Councils. Together, the four councils are working to recruit more foster carers and help children stay close to their schools, friends, families and local communities.

There are many different types of foster care available and chances are there is one that will work for you, including:

Short break care

Short break carers provide planned care for children and young people, including children with disabilities or additional needs.

This could include regular overnight stays, weekends or school holidays. It gives children the chance to enjoy new experiences while giving families valuable support and time together.

Supported lodgings

Supported lodgings helps young people aged 16 to 21 who need extra support as they prepare for adulthood.

Hosts provide a safe place to live and help young people develop everyday skills, such as cooking, managing money, accessing education or finding employment.

Specialist foster care

Some children and young people need extra support because of their experiences, health, development or individual needs.

Specialist foster carers receive additional training and support to help provide a safe, stable and caring home where children can grow in confidence.

Parent and child fostering

Parent and child fostering supports parents who need help developing their parenting skills, often during pregnancy or when they have a young baby.

Foster carers provide a safe environment where parents can learn, build confidence and receive guidance while caring for their child.

Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Lead Cabinet Member for Fostering for the East Midlands, said:

Fostering comes in many different forms, and there are opportunities for people from all backgrounds and circumstances to make a difference.

You do not need to be a certain type of person to foster. What matters is having the time, patience and commitment to support a child or young person.

By working together through Foster for East Midlands Councils, our four councils can provide more support for carers and help more children remain connected to their local communities.

We would encourage anyone who has thought about fostering to take that first step and find out more. You may be surprised by the type of fostering that could be right for you.

Don’t rule yourself out

Alongside these options, there are other types of foster care that may suit different families, lifestyles and circumstances.

You may have thought fostering was not for you, but there could be a role that fits around your life and the support you can offer.

Whether you can provide short-term care, regular breaks or longer-term support, every foster carer helps give children and young people stability, care and opportunities for the future.

Don’t rule yourself out. Find out if there is a type of fostering where you could help support a child in your local community.

The Foster for East Midlands Councils team can answer your questions, provide guidance and help you understand what to expect from the fostering process. There is no obligation to continue if fostering is not right for you.

Find out more about fostering and the different types of care available on the Foster for East Midlands web page, or call 03033 132 950.