MORE foster carers are being sought ahead of the arrival of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the county.

A report put before Herefordshire Council cabinet members last week highlighted the achievements of the council’s fostering service, which had seen an increase of more than 15 per cent in the number of foster carers in the county year on year.

But more are needed. As part of the government’s refugee resettlement programme, the service is increasing the number of foster carers and supported lodgings to accommodate unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC).

The council has committed to taking 25 UASC over the next 12 months and aims to have six additional places by December with a further six by March 2017.

Gillian Cox, head of looked after children with Herefordshire Council, said: “It is really pertinent we maintain our recruitment drive strategy.

“We need to recruit new carers and providers specifically for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children but where we are using existing carers we need to replace them and regenerate.

“There is some financial reimbursement from central government specifically for UASCs.”

The council’s fostering service is also currently recruiting overnight short break family carers for children with disabilities.

It has received nearly 80 enquiries from interested local families, from which 11 formal applications have been made and four families are now successfully providing short breaks.

The aim is to continue increasing the number of households providing short breaks to eight by March 2017, providing for between 10 and 12 children.

The service has also maintained the supported lodgings provision of 18 households, which allows the council to meet the assessed needs of some of the county’s vulnerable young people.

Jo Davidson, Herefordshire Council’s director for children’s wellbeing, said: “I am delighted with the results our fostering service is achieving, especially in light of the national shortage of foster carers. I’m pleased by the incredibly positive response we’ve had from members of the public to find foster families to provide short breaks for children with disabilities and homes for unaccompanied children.

“We have an incredibly good team in place in Herefordshire, which is why we are able to successfully retain and recruit so many wonderful foster carers across the county, who among them have so many amazing stories to tell."

One success story highlighted was that of John and Shirley Hanson who have fostered more than 300 children in 40 years and were recently both awarded an MBE for their services to fostering.

“This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our county’s foster carers," Ms Davidson added.

"I would like to personally congratulate and thank John and Shirley for everything they’ve done for our children and young people over the past four decades.”

Visit herefordshire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-and-family-care/fostering for more on fostering in Herefordshire.