Stockport Council is backing a fostering campaign to recruit specialist foster carers.

The Council’s fostering service is encouraging local people to come forward to find out more about the scheme and be trained as specialist foster carers.

Local specialist carer Pat, who fosters teenagers, said: “Specialist carers are people who are passionate about the care of young people and can give a young person an opportunity to turn their life around. These children are more vulnerable and need the security of knowing that someone will stick by them, they need love, care and understanding. A lot of nurturing. Being a specialist carer allows me to help give life skills to these young people.”

Councillor Colin Foster, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Children and Family Services, said: “We would encourage people who are passionate about the care of young people to consider this fostering scheme. It can be very rewarding and foster carers make a huge difference to children and young people’s lives while gaining a huge amount of satisfaction from the role.”

The Council run drop-in sessions and monthly open evenings to explain more about the specialist scheme. The next open evening is Tuesday 7th February 2017 starting at 6.00pm at the Town Hall and the drop in session is Thursday 16th February starting at 10am until 12 noon at the Town Hall.

The scheme is a home-based self-employed role which attracts an annual professional fee with extensive training and support.

For more information about becoming a specialist foster carer, or to find out more about the council’s different fostering schemes, contact the recruitment team on 0161 474 3400 or visit www.stockport.gov.uk/fostering.