THERE is an urgent need in Bournemouth for more foster carers for teenagers.

That is the message from Bournemouth Borough Council as it marks this year’s Foster Care Fortnight, and the news is in line with a national need according to the Fostering Network.

Three out of five fostering services are desperately seeking foster carers to make sure that teenagers can be found the homes they need. Mary Taylor, Bournemouth Borough Council’s fostering team manager, said: “We are always trying to recruit foster carers, but at the moment we are really looking to recruit carers who can look after teenagers, because quite a lot of them have got some quite challenging behaviour because of their experiences.

“They need families that can hold on to them and help them work through the difficulties that they have got so they can stabilise and settle down, make sure they’re in education and just improve their opportunities for the future.

“That’s one of the main priorities for us.”

Mary said another priority was for sibling groups, as the team sometimes had to find families to foster five or six children.

The number of looked after children in Bournemouth has risen in line with the national trend since Baby P. The figure for this year so far stands at 249 looked after children, compared with 217 last year and 208 the year before.

Turning lives around is great

Bridget, who has fostered for Bournemouth for 17 years, said: “The highlight is helping a young person turn their lives around and seeing them make the most of their opportunities, or seeing little ones go home to their family.”

Rick, who has been fostering for seven years, added: “There are children who need to be cared for and we are able to give them what they need at a time of crisis in their family.”

Anna and her family have recently welcomed their first baby into their home. Anna said “We had enough room and love in our family to give a child who needs it.”

• Foster Care Fortnight runs until Sunday May 27. Call 01202 456789, email fostering@ bournemouth.gov.uk or visit bournemouth. gov.uk/foster ing for more about becoming a foster carer.

A day in the life...

Bournemouth Borough Council’s fostering team manager Mary Taylor described a day at work:

• 7.45am: Arrive at the office to catch up with admin;

• 8am: Meeting with practice managers. Two families would like to be assessed as foster carers, so we agree which of the supervising social workers will undertake the assessments;

• 9am: An early referral arrives. A 15-year-old-girl needs a foster family as her behaviour has become very difficult for her father to manage since her mother left the family a year ago. She has been staying out at night drinking with an older group, stopped attending school and there are concerns about cannabis use. She needs a resilient carer to help her understand her emotions and stick with her through challenging times.

• 10am: Talk with a supervising social worker. We discuss all the carers she works with to ensure they have sufficient support. We also discuss how to provide a regular break for a carer with a very active girl with boundless energy and little need of sleep;

• Noon: Second referral of the day, a two-week-old baby whose parents are addicted to heroin. The baby is suffering from withdrawal symptoms, and needs a lot of day and night care;

• 2pm: Recruitment meeting to plan a campaign to recruit foster carers locally. This is a real issue as nationally, a child needs a foster placement every 22 minutes;

• 4pm: The team gets together to prepare for the Foster Carer Awards evening where we celebrate all the training undertaken by carers during the year.