Pioneering training scheme for foster carers

The KEEP programme employs techniques first developed in the United States and is now being piloted in the UK.

Foster carers attend 16 weekly 90-minute sessions focused on practical parenting skills.

Sandwell Council is one of four councils locally to pilot the scheme, sending the results of each session back to the course developers in Oregon, USA.

The council ran the first course in April 2012.

Councillor Bob Badham, the council's cabinet member for children and families, said: "This is another example of how we are determined to give our foster carers the best possible support.

"Getting the chance to develop your professional skills is an important part of being a foster carer in Sandwell and the feedback from our carers about this particular course has been very positive."

KEEP training aims to help foster carers create a stable home environment that will in turn boost the chances of a successful placement for Looked After Children in Sandwell.

Fostering Manager Will Mallon said: "It's an intensive course and we ask the carers to really get involved.

"Sandwell Council remains committed to recruiting new carers to expand our capacity to meet the needs of children and young people placed in the care of the authority."