Herefordshire Council's children's resource team is putting fostering in the spotlight during National Foster Care Fortnight.

The aim is to encourage more local families to consider becoming foster carers for county children.

The council is urging prospective foster parents to 'think locally' and 'act locally' by becoming a carer with the authority and offer a home to a child already living in the county.

The aim is to help Herefordshire children stay locally, with the friends and schools they know, backed by the council's commitment to use all its services to support both the children and the foster carers.

Most importantly, says the council, an intensive support service for foster carers and the children they care for is provided by specially trained social workers, psychologists and play therapists together with a realistic package of payments.

Additional support includes access to specialist education services, leisure passes and computers for education.

Teamwork

Rebecca Plato, fostering manager, said: "We have a fantastic team of over 130 foster carers in the county and between them they care for the majority of the 194 children who are looked after by Herefordshire Council. But we need still more, especially for troubled teenagers and five to 10 year olds.

"With their help, many of these children and young people can return to live with their families again - after any problems they may have are worked through.

"For some we need long term foster or adoptive homes to keep them safe and help them reach their full potential, perhaps making up for years of distress or neglect."

Sue Fiennes, Herefordshire Council's director of social care, said: "We rely heavily on local families to come forward to provide a good experience of family life for children in public care in Herefordshire. It's a challenging role, but a worthwhile one."

If you think you're up for the challenge, then contact Herefordshire's children's resource team on 01432 262830 for more details and an information pack.