THOUSANDS of pounds are to be invested in an attempt to recruit 100 new foster carers in North Yorkshire.

More than £370,000 will be spent over three years on North Yorkshire County Council's 'Help us raise 100 smiles' campaign.

Rosemary Archer, director of Social Services, said that although there were 240 registered foster carers countywide, there was an urgent need to recruit more because the number of children taken into care continues to rise each year.

A ten-point action plan has been drawn up to promote fostering. This includes:

* Creating a distinct Fostering Service, with three Area Fostering Teams who will dedicate more time to the assessment of potential foster carers

* Increasing the advertising and recruitment budget from £3,200 to £30,000. A Publicity and Recruitment Worker will be appointed to develop the services' presence and a website will be created

* Developing ongoing training for foster carers

* Reviewing allowances for fosterers, and reward schemes for carers who acquire new skills and training

* Appointing a fostering support worker within each team to help carers

* Appointing a specialist foster worker to help with child placement.

Ms Archer said: "Our target is ambitious, but children who are looked after by the local authority need to be given the best chances possible to fulfil their potential."

She aims to enlist the help of every directorate and department in the county council.

The County Committee for Hambleton will be considering ways in which it can contribute to the scheme at a meeting on Monday next week.

Ideas already drafted include distributing fostering information in public and mobile libraries, displaying information as screen-savers on public computers, and giving leaflets out in schools for parents to read.

Ms Archer said: "Every directorate within the county council has a responsibility towards looked-after children. Together we can make a difference."