Fostering in Wiltshire
Across Wiltshire, many children are unable to remain with their birth families for a range of reasons. This may be due to difficulties at home, such as illness or family breakdown – and in some cases, neglect. TACT is looking for caring and dedicated foster carers in Wiltshire who can provide these young people with the stability, encouragement, and a nurturing environment they need.
If you have a spare room, a kind and patient nature, and a genuine commitment to offering a safe and supportive home, you could play a life-changing role as part of our Fostering Wiltshire team.
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Can I foster in Wiltshire?
You don’t need any previous experience to start fostering in Wiltshire. To begin your application, you’ll need to meet the following basic initial requirements:
- Be aged 21 or over (there is no upper age limit).
- Have at least one spare bedroom.
- Be a full-time UK resident or have indefinite leave to remain.
Fostering also calls for time, flexibility, and a sincere commitment to the role. Good written and spoken English is essential, as you’ll be working closely with other professionals. You’ll also need to maintain clear, accurate records to support the progress and wellbeing of the children and young people in your care.
Full Training
You don’t need previous experience or formal qualifications to become a foster carer.
We offer thorough training to ensure you feel confident, knowledgeable, and fully prepared to welcome a child into your home. This includes a blend of online learning and in-person sessions, giving you flexible and practical support from the start.
As part of the assessment process, you’ll take part in an introductory course called Skills to Foster. This short online programme provides a clear overview of fostering and gives you the opportunity to ask questions and explore what the role involves.
Once approved as a foster carer with TACT, you’ll benefit from a wide range of ongoing training opportunities to continue building your skills and strengthening the support you provide to children and young people in Wiltshire.
We also deliver specialist training to help you develop the expertise and confidence needed to care for children with additional or more complex needs.
24/7 Support
At TACT, we recognise how vital reliable, round-the-clock support is for foster carers. That’s why any surplus income we generate is reinvested into enhancing our services – ensuring you can access advice and guidance whenever you need it.
As a TACT foster carer, you’ll be supported by a dedicated Supervising Social Worker. With a carefully managed caseload, they’re able to offer tailored guidance and consistent support, helping you create a meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of children and young people.
This is what we provide:
- Full 24/7 support. Your Supervising Social Worker will be your main point of contact, and our out-of-hours service is always on hand to provide guidance and support whenever you need it.
- Foster carer portal. A user-friendly online platform giving you access to essential information, training, resources, and practical guidance to support you throughout every stage of your fostering journey.
- Education service. A dedicated team of specialists committed to helping the children in your care reach their full potential through personalised educational support.
- Health service. A service focused on the mental health and wellbeing of the young people in your care.
- Support groups. Local groups across Wiltshire and nearby areas, offering you the chance to connect with other foster carers, exchange experiences, and develop a strong and supportive network.
- Therapeutic support groups. Monthly sessions designed to support carers who are looking after children affected by complex trauma and/or attachment difficulties.
- Support for young people. Our Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners organise activities, events, and resources designed to enhance the lives and experiences of the children in your care.
- Supporting your own children. We recognise the important role your own children have in fostering. Our Children Who Foster events provide them with the opportunity to meet peers in similar situations and share their experiences.
- Peer support. Whenever possible, experienced TACT foster carers provide practical guidance, encouragement, and peer-to-peer support to those starting their fostering journey.
Our Therapeutic Support Groups
Caring for children who have experienced complex trauma or attachment difficulties calls for specialised knowledge and ongoing professional support.
Early experiences of this kind can lead children to see the world as unsafe and relationships as unpredictable, which can influence how they connect with others – sometimes resulting in behaviours that escalate quickly.
Our monthly Therapeutic Support Groups provide foster carers with a safe, non-judgemental space to reflect on their experiences alongside a supportive peer network. These sessions allow you to explore behaviours and key topics, develop practical strategies, celebrate successes, and strengthen shared skills. Engaging in trauma-informed discussions about both challenges and hopes helps build resilience and deepens understanding of the emotional needs of the children in your care.
Pay & Allowances
Foster carers are dedicated, skilled professionals, and our fees and allowances reflect the important difference they make in children’s lives.
In collaboration with Wiltshire Council, we receive funding to support children and young people in the local community, allowing us to provide high-quality services and comprehensive support for our foster carers.
The fostering allowance you receive will depend on factors such as the type of care you offer, the number and ages of the children in your care, and the complexity of their individual needs.
There are also payments for children’s birthdays, holidays and religious festivals. We also pay long service awards and a Refer a Friend fee (if you recommend someone who then goes on to be an approved foster carer with us).
Below, you can find examples of the weekly Fostering Wiltshire payments you could receive when a young person is placed in your care:
Meet The Area Manager
“TACT’s values strongly align with my own – and as a charity, I appreciate that every penny is reinvested into supporting the children and young people we care for. I’m passionate about improving outcomes for children and have particular interests in contextual safeguarding and positive leadership.”
Sara Gullick – TACT Area Manager South West
Sara joined TACT in 2026, having previously worked across local authorities and other independent fostering agencies as a social worker and senior manager. Sara has also fostered herself, which has provided her with first hand experience of providing care for children and young people.
Rated ‘GOOD’ By Ofsted
Following an inspection in April 2025, Ofsted have announced that TACT South West has been rated ‘GOOD’ for its work with foster carers and looked after children.
“Foster carers support children to participate in social, leisure, and faith-based activities, in line with their wishes. In addition, children have enjoyed attending activities and events facilitated by the agency, including a residential music camp and an awards ceremony that celebrated their achievements. These activities help children to build positive memories.” – Ofsted, 2025
What Our Foster Carers Say
“TACT offer 360 degree, 365 day support and have done for the 14 years that we have been with them. The support is immediate, kind, reassuring, thorough, none-judgmental and everyone in the household is looked after. TACT will always follow up with a phone call or a visit to check in. This is a lovely touch, I always feel fully supported as do the children that we care for in our family.”
Alex – TACT Foster Carer since 2012
Fostering Information Events
- March 10, 2026
- East Midlands, London, North West, Scotland, South West, Virtual, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & North East,
- Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Virtual Information Event – 10th March
Our virtual information event on 10th March is the perfect opportunity to learn more from the comfort of your own home.
- March 11, 2026
- South West
- Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Salisbury Information Event – 11th March
Live in the South West? Come along to our fostering information event at Culture Coffee, Salisbury on Wed 11th March to learn more about becoming a foster carer.
- March 20, 2026
- East Midlands, London, North West, Scotland, South West, Virtual, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & North East,
- Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Virtual Information Event – 20th March
Our virtual information event on 20th March is the perfect opportunity to learn more from the comfort of your own home.
Start Your Fostering Journey
