Brighton and Hove Council has announced paid leave for all council employees who are foster carers to enable them to support their foster children.

Council employees will be allowed three days to attend initial assessment sessions and five days a year for training and meetings in connection with the child's placement to encourage more working people to become foster carers.

"We are really pleased about this incentive," said Karen Devine, the council's manager for fostering and adoption. "It will potentially increase the number of working people able to manage fostering and help them to balance work and fostering responsibilities."

Pat Hawker, chair of the children, families and schools committee, said: "As the largest employer in the city, we have a responsibility to encourage fostering and there is a wealth of experience to be tapped from our own employees."