DURHAM County Council has backed a new pay scheme for foster carers to prevent them being lured away by private agencies.

The council's executive committee heard yesterday how increased allowances paid by outside agencies were attracting some of the authority's 250 carers away from its service, which looks after 341 children.

But is hoped that the payment for skills scheme, which will offer specialist training and a skills fee on top of the basic allowance, will encourage carers to stay.

Social services director Peter Kemp warned that increasing demands placed on carers were not matched by allowances offered by the council, making it increasingly difficult to attract suitable applicants.

He added: "Many foster carers have moved to the independent sector and it is my understanding that other foster carers are currently contemplating such a move.

"Over the last year, there has been a growth in the size of the independent sector in the North-East and this has resulted in a reduction of the county council's own service."

Mr Kemp added that the problem had forced the council to use outside fostering services, which cost well above the £113 per child spent each week as part of its in-house service.

Payment for skills will be split into three bands, with new foster carers in band one not eligible for a skills fee.

Carers in band two will receive £25 per child each week and the most skilled in band three will be paid £117.50 per child.

The scheme is expected to be introduced on September 1, at an estimated cost of £181,000