Fostering First, the organisation responsible for providing foster care across the Island, has recruited two new staff members. Fostering Officer Victoria Beattie is a qualified social worker and has a degree in social work from the University of Chester. She studied at Warrington campus for three years and her course included work placements with the Citizens Advice Bureau in Warrington and the Isle of Man Probation Service. Trainee Fostering Officer Joanne Dunne has one year left of her social work degree studies with the Open University. She ran a children’s nursery called Tiny Tykes in Douglas before joining The Children’s Centre’s residential services team in 2004. In their roles at Fostering First both Joanne and Victoria support foster carers and recruit and assess new foster carers who are needed to provide short-term, long-term and respite care for children of all ages. Fiona Lassen, Head of Fostering at Fostering First, welcomed Joanne and Victoria’s appointment and commented: “Recruiting and supporting foster carers is a high priority. Having two more staff members will increase our capacity to achieve our aims which is a positive for service development and delivery.” For more information about Fostering First go to www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/fosteringfirst, email fosteringfirst@thechildrenscentre.org.im or call 631947 or visit the office at 17 Village Walk, Onchan. - ENDS -