Council appealing for long-term foster carers

The borough council' social services department is seeking long-term homes for eight children, aged eight to 13, but that figure is constantly changing.

Hilary Tillotson, a social worker with the council's fostering service, said: "There is a shortage of foster carers countrywide, not just in Darlington. But our shortage is for children requiring long-term, permanent placements.

"We always need short-term carers as well, of course, but at the moment we are really looking for people willing to provide long-term care."

Darlington has 41 sets of foster carers and five sets of family and friends carers, that is people who know the children they are looking after. Between them they look after 88 children up to the age of 18.

Ms Tillotson said: "I think sometimes people think it might be a bit daunting to be a long-term carer.

"It certainly can be tough. If a child has got a lot of contact with families and sibling contact then it is a lot of work for long-term foster carers.

"But those who do it find it such a rewarding thing, to give a child permanency and to see the benefits that that child gets from being able to keep in touch with their own families."

The authority offers extensive training to anyone interested in foster caring.

A foster mother from the town, who cannot be named, urged anyone considering it to attend the training course.

The 50-year-old, who has two teenagers on long-term placements, said: "It is not an easy job by a long, long way.

"Trying to parent a teenager that isn't your own is very hard and demanding. But it can be so rewarding when you can turn their life around.

"I would say to anyone interested, just come along, try the course and see if it is for you."

l Foster Care Fortnight 2004, a national recruitment campaign co-ordinated by the Fostering Network, starts today. To find out more visit http://www.thefostering.net.

l Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer with Darlington Borough Council can call (01325) 346296.