CHRISTINE and Jim Thompson have been Notts County Council foster carers for eight years.

"We saw a TV programme about it and didn't have any children at that time but thought we could have a go at being foster carers," said Chris, 42.

The couple, from Brinsley, underwent training which includes focusing on child development and safe caring.

Since then they have cared for around a dozen children, and have their own daughter Danielle, now six. And they have never looked back.

"It's changed our lives. We really enjoy it, it's so rewarding," said Jim, 46.

The couple find helping children from difficult backgrounds turn their lives around to be one of the most rewarding aspects of what they do.

And they feel they had the support they needed to deal with any challenging behaviour.

Chris said: "The training is fantastic. We did have one child that was quite challenging. It was 5pm and I phoned a social worker and she actually came off her own back to help settle the child."

A phone line is manned around the clock if any problems arise.

Chris said foster caring had boosted her confidence to the point where she now helps train others – something she never thought she would be able to do.

The couple also help out with a buddy scheme for new carers.

Jim said: "It's quite a thing to think about looking after someone else's child 24 hours a day. People think, 'can I do it?' but with support from everybody you can."

Chris added: "It's always in the back of your mind from the first meeting that the child is going to eventually move, so it's not a shock when it happens. And they are always back for a visit."

Fostering like this is a vital component in the care of the vulnerable in Notts. However, the council is struggling to keep up with demand for this and other social care services.

The number of children being referred to Notts County Council for assessment, the number subject to child protection plans, and the number looked after by foster carers and residential homes, have rocketed in the past few years.

The reason, according to the council, is a "triple whammy" of events that have made public officials increasingly cautious over child protection.

All councils are seeing a rise in referrals following the death of "Baby Peter" – an infant who died through parental neglect but was known to Haringey Council social services.

Local authorities were heavily criticised in the wake of his death. Now public sector workers are more likely to refer a case to councils than before, and social workers may push them through the system to a higher level of supervision and care.

But in Notts, officials believe referrals have gone up more quickly because of two critical reports by government watchdog Ofsted, and the death of Charlotte Avenall, an eight-year-old from Mansfield, who was neglected by her parents and was found hung in her bedroom.

In its reports, Ofsted concluded Notts was not monitoring some children closely enough.

In the case of Charlotte, who was in the care system, Ofsted said the council should have taken a closer interest in the girl's welfare and she should have been subject to a more detailed assessment.

Notts has traditionally opted to keep children in their families where possible.

However, these events, including the Ofsted criticism, have combined to push up the number of referrals from 6,164 in 2008/09, to 9,786 in 2009/10. This is an increase of 59% – three times the national rate.

Children referred to the council are assessed and if there is serious concern they undergo a detailed review, called a 'core assessment'. This may result in the child becoming the subject of a child protection plan. In Notts, the number of children with these plans has risen 83% in two years from 398 in the summer of 2008 to 727 this summer. The national increase during that time was 33%.

The highest level of social care is when children are "looked after" by the council. Again, that is rising faster in Notts than in the nation as a whole. In the last two years the number of looked after children has gone up from 501 to 623.

These figures are likely to rise even further. If Notts were to take the same proportion of children into care as the national average, another 260 would enter the system.

The increasing numbers of children in care means increasing costs.

Notts County Council estimates it must find another £22 million next year to meet demand.

One problem for the council, however, is it cannot find enough staff to fill the gaps. As a result, costs climb even higher as private, profit making agencies sign up foster carers and social workers, sometimes on better terms and conditions, and then offer them to councils at inflated rates.

Senior council officers describe this situation, in which demand and costs are increasing at alarming rates, as a "firestorm".

Foster carers employed directly by the council, like Jim and Chris, cost approximately £25,000 per year.

The equivalent care bought in from an agency would cost at least £52,000, possibly more depending on the child's needs.

The council currently employs 380 of its own foster carers, but another 200 are recruited from agencies.

Similarly, the council is struggling to attract senior social workers, many of whom have left for agencies. A permanent member of staff would cost the council £40,000 a year, but the agency cost is up to £90,000.

It is for these reasons children's social care shows the greatest increase in cost in the coming year.

County council officers admit their cost projections may prove to be pessimistic and the situation might turn out to be better than currently predicted, but with the authority being under so much scrutiny, there is no appetite to take the risk of under-funding the service.

"These children are the most vulnerable in our society," said Anthony May, corporate director of children's services at Notts County Council.

However, Mr May said the authority is working hard to cut costs.

One strategy is to work with other public authorities to reduce unnecessary referrals to the council. There is also a plan to reduce the amount of money the council pays to agencies. Nine authorities in the East Midlands have joined forces to offer a set rate to agencies for care workers.

In addition, the county council is trying to recruit more of its own staff. It can find newly-qualified social workers but cannot recruit more experienced staff.

Foster carers, meanwhile, are a rare commodity.

The council is desperate to recruit more like Chris and Jim. Twenty more placements would save in excess of £500,000.

Notts County Council's Big Budget Conversation is asking people for views and ideas on how it can save £150m over the next three years. To take part visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/conversation