A MAJOR review of fostering and payments in Lancashire is planned in a bid to find more people to look after children with problems and difficulties.

Social services bosses are worried about the difficulty finding homes for such youngsters.

A reorganisation of the service five years ago and the creation of seven specialist teams of social workers has seen an increase in foster parents.

And the number of children who have been found suitable homes has increased from 888 in 1993 to 1062 last year.

The amount of new people wanting to be foster parents is also high enough to replace the number of those taking retirement.

But there are still problems finding places for children with physical and learning difficulties. There are also problems surrounding older children with behaviour problems and youngsters with criminal records.

The council failed to find foster homes for almost half of the older children wanting a home last year.

Foster carers have been calling for an increase in payments for several years.

They claim most children have greater needs and payment rates have failed to keep in step with inflation.

Plans to introduce private foster care across the country could force Lancashire County Council to increase payments to keep pace with competitors.

Lancashire's social services committee will discuss launching a major review of the service when it meets on Tuesday.

The councillors will also look at increasing payments and the impact it will have on County Hall's already stretched budgets.

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