[Skip to content]

Nottinghamshire County Council - Proud of our past, ambitious for our future
.
Foster care fortnight 2013 web banner

Adoption and fostering

Could you offer a loving home?

There are many different kinds of children with a wide range of needs waiting to be adopted or fostered in Nottinghamshire and we are always looking for people who reflect this diversity.

Adoption

Photo of a woman with a child.

Adoption is where a child legally becomes a member of a new family and has one or two new parents.

If you are at least 21 years old and can provide a permanent, stable and caring home, your application to adopt will be welcomed. There is no upper age limit. 

There are lots of misconceptions about who can adopt - read our frequently asked questions to get the facts.

If you think you could adopt a child, we'd love to hear from you - contact adoption services, or read our guide to getting started with adoption.  

Support after adoption

We offer support, advice, information and counselling to people who:

  • have been adopted

  • are the parents of adopted children

  • are the birth relatives of children who have been adopted.

Our team includes experienced social workers, a psychotherapist and a counsellor, and we can provide support packages for adoptive families experiencing difficulties.

Read about support after adoption.

Fostering

Photo of three boys.

Fostering is a way of offering children and young people a home while their own family is unable to look after them.

Foster carers receive a regular weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child. Once foster carers have developed their skills, they may become eligible for further compensation to recognise their experience. 

There are different types of foster care depending on the needs of both the child and their family. These range from short-term care for just a few days or weeks, to long-term placements, as well as care for disabled children or children with behavioural problems. 

All sorts of people can foster - read our frequently asked questions about fostering to find out more.

Read our guide to becoming a foster carer, and contact fostering services if you'd like to discuss it further.

Support for foster carers

Support, help, patience and reassurance can help a child or young person come to terms with decisions that are made about their future. The support and training we provide will enable you to give a high standard of care to the children you look after and develop new skills.

It includes:

  • training courses

  • telephone support

  • financial allowances

  • the provision of equipment

  • and much more.

Read about the support we offer foster carers.

You could foster or adopt.

Cookies
By using this site you are agreeing to our terms and conditions (including using cookies to collect anonymous usage statistics). If you do not agree you may either stop cookies in your browser settings or stop browsing the site. Find out more about how we use cookies.. Close