The children of foster parents need to be better supported, both for their own sake and to guarantee the success of a foster child being placed in their family, according to a new report.

The Fostering Network Scotland believes that a more structured support system for the biological children of foster parents would help improve the success rate of fostering placements, and it is calling on the Scottish Government to do more to help.

Key among its recommendations are that a social worker in each area should be responsible for the children of foster parents, providing them with important support; that sons and daughters should have more information about fostering and access to support groups; and that they should have a role in selecting which foster child enters their family.

"Living in a family that fosters can help sons and daughters to mature and become good role models, but they need extra help to deal with the added responsibility," said the director of the Fostering Network Scotland, Sara Lurie.

"They have to learn to share their toys, their home and, most importantly, their parents. Ensuring they are more involved in important decisions and have the right support and information is vital to the success of fostering."

To coincide with the publication of the report, 'Fostering families – supporting sons and daughters of foster carers', a film about the experiences of sons and daughters and a new handbook have been released.