DESPITE a rise in the number of children in Poole being fostered last year, there was a fall in new carers being approved by the council.

More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of children in the care system were fostered in 2017/18 – a four per cent rise from the previous year.

However, a report to Poole council’s people overview and scrutiny committee for children and young people says that recruiting new foster carers is “a challenge”

It says: “Recruitment remains a challenge to Poole and 2018/18 saw a reduced number of foster carer approvals despite generating a number of fostering enquiries.

“It is imperative that Poole continues to raise awareness of the need to recruit more foster carers and supported lodging carers.”

Six families withdrew from the council’s assessment process last year with only 17 households approved for fostering compared to 24 in 2016/17.