A NEW Marketing and Recruitment Officer has been appointed by a council to boost its number of foster carers.

The specially-selected official with digital skills to organise online and social media campaigns started work for Blackburn with Darwen borough last month.

Children’s Services boss Maureen Bateson has reported the new appointment to colleagues.

She told them: “The recruitment of mainstream foster carers remains challenging.

“To improve this, the Service has appointed a new Marketing and Recruitment Officer with the skills needed to run effective digital campaigns and events.”

Cllr |Bateson said the officer had worked a long notice period meaning no-one had led recruitment for several months.

She also revealed the borough currently has 245 children in its care with foster families.