This Is Not Just Fostering…this is about social responsibility
Ramona Catarig, TACT’s Operational Director of Children’s Services
On why it’s important to be focused on the the long‑term social impact of the choices we make every day.
When people in the sector talk about fostering, the focus is often on placements – availability, cost, speed. But if that is where the conversation starts and ends, I believe we miss what really matters.
At TACT, we are deliberate about not using the word placement. For us, fostering has never been just about providing a home. It is about the responsibility we hold to children, to foster carers, and to the wider care system. It is about the long‑term social impact of the choices we make every day.
A responsibility rooted in purpose and values
Every child who comes into care carries a story shaped by instability, loss or trauma. Our first responsibility is, of course, to that child – to ensure they are safe, supported and able to thrive. But our responsibility does not stop there.
We also hold responsibility to:
- Foster carers who step forward with commitment and compassion
- Local authorities working under immense pressure
- Care systems that are stretched, complex and in need of sustainable solutions
- Public money that must be used wisely, transparently and ethically
Fostering, done well, creates stability for children/young people. Stability changes outcomes. And better outcomes reduce pressure on the whole system.
This is where fostering moves beyond service delivery and becomes a matter of social responsibility.
Why partnerships matter more than ever
Children’s services do not exist in silos, and neither do the challenges facing the sector.
Rising complexity, tighter budgets and growing demand mean that no single organisation can succeed alone. Social responsibility today means stepping into partnership: sharing insight, building trust and planning for the long term.
At TACT, this means working alongside commissioners, social workers and system leaders to:
- Understand sufficiency pressures, not just react to them
- Use shared intelligence to plan responsibly
- Design services around outcomes, not transactions
- Contribute to sustainable care systems, not short‑term solutions
This approach is not defined by volume or visibility, but by care, openness and values‑led decision‑making.
A charity with a system role
As a charity, we carry a particular responsibility. We are accountable not to shareholders, but to children and to the public good.
That responsibility is evident every day, through our commitment to evidence‑informed practice and our willingness to ask difficult questions about whether our work genuinely supports positive outcomes for children/young people – and strengthens the system. Crucially, it requires us to consider the long‑term impact of our decisions on children, carers and communities.
Fostering is changing. Commissioning is changing. Expectations are changing too. The organisations that will make a real difference are those that recognise fostering is not simply a service to be delivered, but a social commitment to stability, responsibility and partnership.
At TACT, we are proud to stand for that commitment. When we get this right, the impact is far reaching. This is not just fostering. It is shaping lives. It is strengthening communities. It is helping to build a care system that truly works for children/young people.
