Derbyshire foster carers to be rewarded for referring a friend

Foster carers in Derbyshire are set to receive £1,000 if they recommend a friend who goes on to become a foster carer after Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet approved a plan to increase its ‘recommend a friend’ bonus. 

The county council is looking to expand its team of foster carers and find loving, stable homes for more than 900 children of all ages and abilities in its care. 

There are many different types of fostering opportunities with the council which fit around work, family and different lifestyles. 

Those interested in fostering and already familiar with the requirements through their family or friends experience can often go on to become approved carers themselves. 

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Safeguarding, Councillor Julie Patten, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to increase the ‘recommend a friend’ bonus for Derbyshire foster carers.

“We know our current carers are best placed to be ambassadors for fostering and that word of mouth is a really effective way for us to recruit applicants and the new bonus now reflects that.

“We also know that often an understanding of the role from a current carer is a great starting point as new applicants go through the approval process. 

“As a foster carer in Derbyshire we’ll pay you fees and allowances and support you through every step of your journey.

“If you’re already a foster carer and know someone interested in becoming one too, we’d love to hear from them.”

Foster carers don’t need any special qualifications, they just need to: 

• Be aged 21 or over with no upper age limit
• Have a spare room or space in their bedroom for a cot for a child under two
• Go through a few initial checks before they are assessed.

Foster carers can also be:

• Of any sexual orientation or gender identity
• Married, single, in a civil partnership, living with a partner, divorced or widowed
• Of any religion or no religion
• Employed or unemployed
• Of any ethnicity
• Be able bodied or disabled
• With or without children already
• With children still living at home.

To find out more information about fostering in Derbyshire visit derbyshire.gov.uk/fostering