Northumberland is facing a shortage of foster carers for children across all age ranges - leading officers on the foster care team to speak out in a bid to dispel some myths about what it takes to become one.
Team manager Lynne Love and recruitment officer Caroline Matthews attended Wednesday's meeting of the Cramlington, Bedlington and Blyth Local Area Council and delivered a presentation to members on foster care in the county.
They explained that the shortage was a national issue. During Foster Care Fortnight in May, the council issued an urgent plea for foster parents in a bid to keep children in their communities.
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A spokesman said that a lack of foster carers can mean vulnerable children are placed with families away from the area they live. At the time, more than 430 children were currently in care in the county.
Responding to a question from Coun Eve Chicken as to why there was a shortage, Mrs Matthews said: "There is myths around foster care care. People think they can't if they work, or if they're single of they don't have children.
"There's very few barriers. You need a spare bedroom and time, and love for children. Beyond that, there's very few things that would stop you. In terms of the shortfall figure, we've just never got enough."
Mrs Love added: "Sometimes we have a shortage of carers for teenagers, but it is a national shortage.
"There are often shortages for teenagers and children with disabilities but currently at the moment it's a shortage of all ages. Finance is a barrier, in the way the world is at the moment we have to be realistic about finance."
While some potential foster carers may have reservations about their financial situation, the council does provide support to carers. Foster carers can currently earn up to £183 a week while all Northumberland carers receive a fostering allowance of up to £219 per week per child which covers the needs of the child such clothing, food, activities and pocket money.
To find out more call Caroline Matthews on 01670 62 62 62, email foster@northumberland.gov.uk or visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/foster
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