WEST Sussex County Council is looking for more "parent and baby foster carers", to help give vulnerable parents and their babies the best chance possible of staying together.

As part of Foster Care Fortnight – which runs from Monday, May 13, until Sunday, May 26 – the council is highlighting the need for more foster carers to come forward.

There are many kinds of fostering, including parent and baby, which sees vulnerable parents and babies placed with a foster carer, who will provide support and advice in a stable, loving and secure family environment.

Stuart Gallimore, West Sussex's director of children's services, said: "Parent and baby placements are designed to promote parental responsibility and give support to vulnerable parents and their babies.

"Parents are expected to fully care for their child, while the foster carer provides them with guidance, encouragement and advice.

"Through this process, we hope to teach parents the skills they need and enable as many babies as possible to be able to remain with their birth parents."

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.