FOSTERING First has appointed two new members of staff to help foster carers in the Isle of Man.

Victoria Beattie and Joanne Dunne have joined the organisation that is responsible for providing foster care across the Island.

Joanne has been recruited as a trainee fostering officer. She has one year left of a social work degree which she is conducting through the Open University.

Prior to this Joanne ran a children's nursery called Tiny Tykes in Douglas before joining The Children's Centre's residential services team in 2004.

Victoria has been recruited as a fostering officer. She is a qualified social worker and has a degree in social work from the University of Chester.

During her degree years Victoria undertook work placements with the Citizens Advice Bureau in Warrington and the Isle of Man Probation Service.

Fiona Lassen, the head of fostering at Fostering First, said: "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 e-mail fosteringfirst@thechildrenscentre.org.im or telephone 01624 631947.

Have you ever thought about fostering? Read our interview with a couple who are foster carers in the Island.