A LOCAL authority has warned that it is facing a shortage of foster parents because there is almost full employment and increasing competition from independent fostering agencies.

North Yorkshire County Council's bid to find 100 more foster families has the message: Help us raise 100 smiles.

John Heron, manager of the county's child placement unit, said almost full employment meant fewer people could offer full-time foster care.

The independent sector can pay their carers £350 to £500 a week per child compared to an average North Yorkshire payment of £116.

Presenting his report to the county council's Harrogate committee, Mr Heron said the rising cost of housing was also having an impact. "This is particularly true in North Yorkshire where many people simply cannot afford to buy houses with spare accommodation," he said.

Despite growing demand for placements, recruitment and retention of carers was increasingly difficult.

"It was once the case that one person in ten who made an inquiry about fostering would go on to complete the assessment and become a foster carer. It is suggested that today, only one in 25 inquiries go on to foster," said Mr Heron.

North Yorkshire provided care for more than 650 children in the past year, arranging more than 150,000 nights of accommodation.

Mr Heron said the county was now highlighting how people could help to promote its campaign.