CHESHIRE West and Chester Council is recruiting foster carers to help them look after after children in care.

Foster carers play a vital role in ensuring that children who cannot live with their parents for a short or long period of time, have a secure, safe and caring place to live.Š

There are many different types of foster care from providing emergency overnight stays, short breaks for children with disabilities to long-term support until the young person reaches adulthood.

Children’s Services executive member Arthur Harada said: “We meet the different needs of all sorts of children and young people from toddlers to teenagers.”

“Foster carers undertake a unique and hugely rewarding role and we are looking for a range of people from different backgrounds to come forward to provide foster care.

“It is important is that you are committed, realistic and have a positive approach.”

Paul Boyce, head of safeguarding at CWAC, believes that foster carers often enjoy life-changing careers.

He said: “Foster carers come in all shapes and sizes all kinds of backgrounds. What we are looking for is the right kind of approach to working with children.

“We are not looking for Mother Teresa’s or saints – we are looking for people who can put themselves out and can put the needs of other people before themselves for some time.

“It is important that people understand the context of being a foster carer. It is a big commitment, it is challenging, it is also extremely rewarding and beneficial.

“Fosterers not only help youngsters live with a different family, children sometimes have to cope with the anger and loss of what they see as rejection, they help young people come to terms with changes.

“Fostering is helping children to become successful young adults providing security, sensitivity as well as a home base for them to grow up in.

“Foster carers play a fundamental part in enabling an individual to succeed.”

Mr Boyce added: “We get great feedback from our foster carers. Many know that they have a made a huge difference to the lives of the children they fostered. Many keep in touch with the children later and throughout their adult life.” Š