MEET mum of four Berni Woods, East Lancashire’s answer to Supernanny.

She doesn’t wear shoulder pads and smiles more than TV’s Jo Frost but she does share her passion and success in helping troubled children.

The grandma of 12 from Darwen is one of the first recruits on a pilot scheme for children in care who display anti-social challenging behaviour and need extra support.

Former pub landlady Berni gave up her career to join Blackburn with Darwen Council’s parenting programme, Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care, and now dedicates her life to helping East Lancashire’s struggling seven to 11-year-olds.

The borough was selected as one of only eight local authorities in the country to be chosen to trial a successful American-based scheme, which sees specially trained foster parents offer one-to-one support over a nine to 12 month placement.

The £3.8m government pilot project aims to prevent young people with emotional or psychological difficulties from getting into trouble at school and help them settle in permanent care placements.

“These children who have been identified to have problems often just need a bit of attention,” smiled the 52-year-old.

“They often haven’t had the one-to-one contact they need and crave.

"One of the best times of my life was when I was at home raising my own children, so I love my job.”

As she talks there’s a kindness in her eyes and it’s easy to see why children feel safe when they go to stay with Auntie Berni.

She and her husband Anthony, 54, received intensive training on supporting youngsters with extra needs, including management methods to cope with difficult behaviour.

Her first placement was a nine-year-old boy needing a lot of attention and close supervision.

Berni explained: “He was very, very pleasant but you couldn’t take your eyes off him.

"He had to travel in a taxi to school because his carer couldn’t control him, but he grew out of it, and we got on really well.

“We achieved so much and it was so rewarding. The hardest part was saying goodbye when he moved on, but I saw him recently for a visit and he’s doing really well.”

With Berni's help the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, became better behaved and his reading ability — which had been under-developed — dramatically improved during his time with her.

“Some of the things they tell you that has happened to them or the comments they make are heartbreaking,” she said.

“But just spending time with them and letting them be a part of your family means so much and the children I’ve had have been really happy with us.”

The youngster living with Berni at the moment has also improved at school.

“This week he came home with a ‘most improved pupil trophy’, I was so proud, it brought a tear to my eye,” she said.

The scheme, which pays a salary of £500 a week, has proved to be effective even with severely emotionally disturbed and abused children and young people.

But more carers like Berni are needed to continue the programme locally.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for children’s services, said: “Since we launched this innovative programme we have been delighted with it’s success.

“The improvements in the quality of life and the prospects for these children have been dramatic.

“However, without carers like Berni we cannot continue this work and I urge people who think they might be able to give a child a helping hand to get in touch.”

Berni added: “My mum used to open her home to people who needed a place to stay and I’ve had a number of people in my life who’d come to me when they needed a roof over their heads when we ran the pubs. I just like to help if I can.

“With this programme you’re paid to stay at home and be there for these children who just need a bit of a helping hand. It’s the perfect job.”

An open afternoon is taking place at The Limes, Darwen, tomorrow, 2-6pm. For more information visit www.blackburn.gov/fostering or contact freephone 0800 328 6919.