A NEW fostering scheme aims to make a difference to the life of challenging young people in care. Fostering Focus, recently launched by Lancashire Social Services, will provide skilled foster carers for children and young people with the most complex needs and difficulties.

In return, carers will be paid a fee of £13,000 a year per child, on top of the usual fostering allowances -- the first "wage" of its kind to be paid in the county.

The new programme stems from Lancashire's desire to reduce the number of children in residential care and place them with foster carers.

Some, however, need extra time, skills and commitment from carers with special knowledge and experience, to see them through their problems.

They are children and young people who are unable to live with their families for whatever reason.

Many are older young people who have experienced lots of disruption and trauma in their lives.

Some have physical or learning disabilities.

They could be youngsters with drug problems or who have been in trouble with the police and their parents can no longer cope.

Some may return home quickly, others will stay in foster care for months or even years.

It is hoped to attract fostering focus carers from all walks of life and many different backgrounds, but their common characteristic will be their strong commitment to helping children and young people, gained from their own lives or work.

Two Fostering Focus teams have now been established for the county.

One based in Burnley, where Gill Green is team leader and the second in Bamber Bridge.

They will provide full assistance for carers, with out-of-hours help and advice, training courses, including NVQ and the backing from both a named social worker and support groups.

Said Gill: "A greater number of children are today being placed in foster care, but we have to acknowledge that some of them are hard to look after and that we need carers who have experience and knowledge in this field.

"It is a demanding and challenging job and, while you might like children or be a good parent, it doesn't necessarily follow that you can or want to become a foster carer.

"Looking after children with complex needs and difficulties is demanding and we will offer carers full backing with specialised training and smaller support teams."

She added: "The new fee to be paid to carers is, in effect, an income for their time, instead of them having a job outside the home.

"These days more and more people have to go out to work, but children and young people with special needs and difficulties require so much time and effort that it would be difficult for carers to have a job as well."

The Fostering Focus programme has already created much interest among would-be carers and the team are now beginning strict assessments on applications.

It plans to stage a special promotion on its work in Accrington town centre on July 6, after a similar publicity event in Burnley attracted much attention.

Alternatively telephone 0800 195 1183 to speak to one of the team.