AN appeal has gone out to recruit people wishing to become foster carers in the Stockton area.

The number of carers has fallen, but the number of children needing temporary or long-term care has risen.

Children who are victims of family break-ups prefer to stay with experienced parents in a caring family home.

But unless more carers are recruited it could mean children have to go into temporary, satellite residential homes.

Stockton Borough Council is eager to hear from anyone who has considered fostering, and has stressed that many people are suitable for the role.

Carers can be young, old, married, single, male, female, working or unemployed, but they must have the ability to offer a child commitment and security.

Jackie Ward, manager of the council's child placement team, said: "We look after a number of children who would like to live in a family setting, but unfortunately we just do not have enough of them.

"This can lead to a variety of problems such as splitting up sibling groups and moving children out of the area.

"The foster carers we do have do a good job, but we just don't have enough of them."

Ms Ward believes that people have many misconceptions about the sort of people the council would consider as foster carers, and so rule themselves out. She stresses that they come from all walks of life, and there is no such thing as a "typical foster carer".

The council needs foster carers to look after children and young people of all ages for varying lengths of time.

As well as the usual fostering, the council runs a "sharing the caring" scheme, which offers family-based respite care for children with disabilities.

For information about the two schemes, ring (01642) 397212.

FOSTERING has become a way of life for Jean, who has been a carer for more than six years.

She mainly looks after teenagers, aged 14 and 15, who are ready to start living independently.

She said: "It does have its up and downs, but once you get a high it is great.

"Some of these kids do not have much chance and you are there to offer them that chance. It can be quite demanding with them pushing you so far, but once they realise you are going to be there for them they often become more settled."

Every foster carer is given a link worker, and each child has a social worker, so if there are any problems there is someone there to help. Potential foster parents go through a rigorous training and selection programme.

Jean said: "At first, it can seem daunting, but it is just procedure. The training programme lasts about a year, and you are also visited on a regular basis by a link worker and social worker.

"It is stressful, but you would not apply if you did not want to do it."

Children are encouraged to keep in touch with their natural parents and families, which is something that is reviewed every six months.

Jean said: "Fostering is very rewarding - a lot of hard work, but it makes you proud when you see the children grown up, and how they have changed."