This Is Not Just Fostering…it’s supporting our people
Daniella Jackson, TACT’s Director of People
On why a stable, values-driven workforce can better provide high quality care.
Our Foster Care Fortnight campaign this year shines a spotlight on TACT and how we set ourselves apart from other organisations in the sector – This is not just fostering. This is TACT Fostering.
From a people perspective, this statement rings true every day. We have over 200 colleagues who support, enable and stand alongside our foster carers and young people, and who make the TACT culture what it is today.
We know that fostering is demanding, emotional and complex work. Supporting it well takes more than systems and processes; it takes purpose and a commitment to people, which is where TACT’s difference shines through.
Creating a workplace built around purpose and values
As an organisation, we’re led by our core purpose, values and trauma-informed principles. For our colleagues, this means knowing that their work genuinely makes a difference and contributes to better outcomes for children and young people.
We recruit and develop people based on our values to help create teams where trust, empathy and mutual respect are the norm. This also underpins our culture of belonging, where everyone is encouraged to bring their whole selves to work and feels safe to have open and honest conversations.
Supporting people who support others
Knowing the challenging nature of our work, we take a proactive approach to wellbeing, support, listening and recognition.
From manageable caseloads and regular supervision to flexible working and access to wellbeing sessions and resources, we’ve created an environment where our colleagues can do their best work without burning out. We also know how important it is to recognise a job well done, which is why we have an active Pass the Praise scheme and regular opportunities to say ‘thank you’ or celebrate sparkle moments.
Colleague voice is also something we take seriously, and feedback shapes our policies, benefits and the way in which we work. Our colleague’s voice’s matters and helps us to make improvements year-on-year.
Growing and developing at TACT
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to delivering great outcomes for children and young people. We believe that outstanding foster care begins with outstanding people and that means investing in their growth.
For our colleagues, this includes:
- Ongoing learning and development tailored to real life challenges
- Leadership development pathways and support
- Opportunities for progression that do not require leaving frontline roles
Over the last year, we’ve been aligning our foster carer learning and development with our colleague programme. We now have a trauma-informed and child-centred approach to equipping foster carers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to meet the complex needs of the children they care for, and this is something we’ll be developing year-on-year.
Why this all matters
All of these things we have in place (and much more!) have a direct impact on the children and young people we support. A stable, values-driven workforce is better able to provide consistent and high-quality care.
We know that when we invest in our people properly, we create a system that works better for everyone involved. And that’s what makes us different.
