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When it comes to fostering with TACT, we go that extra mile to ensure that our foster carers and the children they provide care for are fully supported every step of the way.
At TACT, we have a number of patrons who support what we do, and who are very proud to be connected with us. Watch TACT patron, Lorraine Pascale, talk about her time in care and about the personal qualities she feels are the right fit for anyone considering fostering:
TACT is more than just a fostering provider. Read our top reasons to foster with TACT below.
1. TACT is the UK’s Largest Dedicated Fostering Charity
We are the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity and we’ve been helping to provide loving families for vulnerable children for over 25 years.
As a charity, we put young people at the heart of every decision and we passionately believe that all children deserve to live in loving, safe and stable homes. Unlike some commercial fostering agencies, we are not driven by profit, but by the best possible outcomes, which is why all our surplus income is put back into the services and support that we provide to our carers and young people.
2. We Provide a Voice for Young People
We are passionate about providing a voice for children and young people in care. Their needs and views are at the heart of everything we do. We actively campaign to influence government policies and argue for positive changes that enable young people to achieve their full potential.
TACT are also members of The Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers, The Kinship Care Alliance and Stand Up For Siblings.
Read more about how we advocate for young people by visiting our Reinvesting To Change Children’s Lives page.
3. Putting Children First
Children and young people will always come first at TACT. This is why we carefully and expertly match children to our fantastic team of foster carers all over the country. We will never pressure our carers to take a placement just because a bed is available, it’s always about matching each young person with the most suitable carers.
Good matching will help young people to thrive and feel supported and secure in their foster home and helps ensure that placements are stable and long lasting, hopefully minimising the chance of placements from breaking down, which can be emotionally challenging for both the young people and foster carers.
4. 24/7 Foster Carer Support
When a person becomes a foster carer with TACT, we don’t just leave them to get on with it. Every foster carer is assigned their own supervising social worker who will provide support every step of the way. Our social workers will be there right from the start and if our carers ever have any questions, issues or concerns.
We know fostering isn’t a 9-5 job, which is why we offer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Read more about our comprehensive support.
5. A Generous Fostering Allowance
We know that our foster carers are motivated by improving the lives of children and young people and not by money, but we believe it is important that they are suitably rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
As a foster carer you are carrying out a highly skilled role, and as such receive a weekly fee and fostering allowance when a child is placed with you.
As a foster carer, you would also receive extra payments for the child’s birthday, a festival allowance, holiday allowances and some additional travel costs. Additionally, you will qualify for special tax exemptions and reliefs.
Read more about our fees and allowances.
6. Comprehensive Training and Development
We are committed to providing our foster carers and staff with the learning and training that enables them to develop their skills, knowledge, and experience.
Our training programmes are designed to suit each individual’s learning needs ensuring that all the courses that are undertaken are relevant and chosen specifically to help you grow in confidence in what you do.
We also ensure that our high quality training is accessible to all of our foster carers and staff. This means you will be able to access learning in a variety of ways, including face to face and online.
Read more about our training.
7. Developing New Innovative Services
We are always looking for new and innovative ways to provide support to our foster carers and young people. As such, we have developed a range of innovative services, including our own Education and Health Service – both of which are focused on achieving great outcomes for children and young people.
Our services have dedicated staff teams, and provide practical, specific and knowledgeable advice and support.
Read more about new and innovative services we have reinvested in by visiting our Reinvesting To Change Children’s Lives page.
8. Supporting Our Care Leavers
Being care-experienced can be a mixed bag for many, especially those reaching the age where they may be looking to move out from their foster home. It can bring about a mixture of excitement and worry about possible changes ahead; after all, there can be a lot to consider, such as finances, accommodation, education and employment.
Our TACT Connect members have access to number of benefits, such as an online members-only Hub, regular meetups, access to free resources, educational support, financial support and a number of different workshops. There are further employment opportunities for our members who can become TACT Connect Advisors, working alongside the team to influence Connect’s growth and development. It’s a two-way street, a healthy cycle of interdependence if you like. We help members, members help each other, members provide feedback, we improve the scheme, and so it goes on!
Our aim is to provide a connection to a community that’s there throughout adulthood.
Read more about TACT Connect by visiting our Reinvesting To Change Children’s Lives page.
9. Wide UK Coverage
At TACT, it is important that we’re physically there for our foster carers, as well as being on the end of a telephone. Being the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity means that our teams cover large parts of the UK, so we’re never far away.
Our coverage means that our foster carers have regular visits from social workers, opportunities to take part in local training and events and lots of children’s activities.
10. We’re Partners, Not Providers
We pride ourselves on developing strong partnerships with local authorities across the UK. This means that we get a high volume of placement referrals from local authorities across the country and as a foster carer you can expect regular placements. We have been working with local authorities for over 25 years, developing services that provider brighter futures for children and young people in care or on the edge care.
We have built a reputation for excellence and the provision of quality services through our partnerships. And our not for profit status means that local authorities can be sure that our focus is always on the best outcomes for the children that they place with our foster carers.
