A FOSTERING service has opened a new office in Bromsgrove due to demand in the region.

Five Rivers Child Care will recruit 12 foster carers in the next six months to support the increasing number of young people in the care system.

This service will operate from the offices in Bromsgrove Enterprise Park which will have facilities to deliver support and essential training to new foster carers.

The expansion also sees the creation of four jobs in Bromsgrove to facilitate the recruitment drive, including a supervising social worker and a full-time team manager.

Johan Strydom, Five Rivers’ fostering manager for the West Midlands, said: “Being able to increase our presence in Bromsgrove is key to helping the many vulnerable children waiting to be placed with foster carers.

“One issue that may be impacting recruitment are the misconceptions deterring potential carers from exploring fostering.

“An overwhelming number of people still think that it’s only a viable option for those that are older, already parents or homeowners. But that’s simply not the case.

“People from all walks of life can foster, so same-sex couples, single carers, people that rent property and those as young as 21 can foster as long as they have a suitable spare room and the necessary personal attributes.”