Northern Ireland is heading for a foster care crisis with a shortage of carers, it has been warned.

More than half of those currently fostering are approaching potential retirement age and there are virtually none in their 20s, a report from a leading charity warned.

The Age of Foster Care, published by the Fostering Network, showed that 55% of foster carers are in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

While there is no upper age limit on foster carers, the figures suggest a huge proportion of the carers might retire over the next 10 to 15 years, said the report.

Only 9% of carers are in their 30s, with virtually nobody fostering while in their 20s.

At the same time the average age of female foster carers is growing, from 46 in 2000 to 50 today. Among men it has gone up from 47 to 51.

There is already a shortage of 200 long-term foster families in Northern Ireland and unless recruitment of new carers is stepped up sharply the figures suggest there is likely to be a far higher deficit of carers in the near future, said the charity.

It is using its annual awareness campaign — Foster Care Fortnight — which starts today, to encourage people of all ages to consider a career in fostering.

The charity also called on all fostering services to carry out an audit of their current workforce to assess the potential impact of forthcoming retirements. At the same time it urged the Assembly to introduce regulation and funding so that fostering services are required to give all foster carers adequate financial support.

Kate Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Northern Ireland said: “It’s extremely worrying that such a very high proportion of the foster care workforce is potentially so close to retiring.

“For the sake of the hundreds of children who need the support and care of a foster family each year, it’s crucial more people come forward.”</>\[Joanne McAuley\]She added: "In order to avert the impending crisis, it’s important that we attract people of all ages. Older people can bring experience and skills from previous jobs, but it’s essential we also appeal to the untapped pool of those in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who are particularly well placed to offer long-term care to younger children."

The report also showed it was vital measures were put in place now by national and local governments to ensure there was not an even more severe shortage of foster carers in 10 to 15 years time\[Prestige\]Story 'fostercrisis' fetched from queue '\BELFAST\WIRE\News\Irish News' on 10/05/2009 14:51:12