Become A Foster CArer



At TACT, we empower our foster carers to make a real difference. Together, we create hope and opportunity for our young people.

A Fostering Community That Cares

When you choose to foster with TACT, you can be confident that you are choosing to foster with an organisation that truly cares about you. That is just one of the many reasons why 98% of our foster carers have said they would recommend TACT to others.

Generous Fostering Allowance

Supporting our foster carers financially is so important to us. We not only pay our foster carers generously, but we also have other initiatives such as our Council Tax Contribution scheme. On average, we pay our foster carers £476 per child, per week.

Outstanding Support

With over 30 years of experience, we’ve built a strong support system backed by a wealth of resources and expertise. We have a range of specialist support such as our Education, Health and Therapeutic Teams – this ensures that all of our foster carers are able to thrive.

The UK’s Largest Fostering Charity

As a charity, we put our foster carers and young people at the heart of every decision. Unlike some commercial fostering agencies, we are not driven by profit, but by the best possible outcomes. We are dedicated to supporting our foster carers.


The first step is to check that you fulfil the basic general fostering requirements:

  • Are you at least 21 years old?
  • Do you have at least one spare bedroom in your home?
  • Are you a full-time resident of the UK, or do you have indefinite leave to remain?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to all three questions, you have fulfilled the initial criteria. We would now like to talk to you further about why you would like to become a foster carer, and ask you some more questions.

Pay & Allowances

Foster carers are highly skilled people, and our fees and allowances reflect this.

The total fostering allowance that you receive will vary based on a number of factors, including the type of foster care you are providing, the number or children that you care for and their age, as well as the complexity of their needs.

As a foster carer, you are paid on a fortnightly basis, while you have a child living with you. It is important to consider that you will not be paid any fees or allowances for any period where you are not providing care for a child.

Here at TACT, we like to be transparent with our fees and allowances – and not provide unrealistic or unobtainable examples of our fees



Are there different types of fostering agencies?

Foster carer’s in the UK have the choice of registering to work with a local authority or with an independent fostering agency (IFA). Here at TACT we are classed as an IFA, but unlike many others, we are a charity who make zero profit from the work we do. This means all our surplus income is reinvested into helping the children we care for and their foster carers.

Read more about the differences here.

How much do foster carers get paid?

As soon as you’re an approved foster carer with TACT and begin caring for a young person, you will immediately receive a fostering allowance.

The total fostering allowance that you receive will vary based on a number of factors, including the type of foster care you are providing, the number or children that you care for and their age, as well as the complexity of their needs.

Find out how much you’ll be paid here.

 

What support do foster carers receive?

For total piece of mind, TACT provide their foster carers with 24/7 support. When you become a foster carer with us, you will be allocated your own Supervising Social Worker – who will provide most of the support that you will need.

We have also developed a set of specialist support services including Therapeutic Support and our Education Team.

Read more about the support we offer here.

Are there different types of fostering?

Children and young people come into care for different reasons which is why there are different types of foster care.

Some of our foster carers specialise in specific types of foster care, whereas others have skills and experience that allow them to provide a wide range of different care. Whichever type of foster care you are interested in providing, we will offer you a whole range of training and support to help you grow your knowledge so you can offer the best care possible.

Learn about the different types of fostering here.

Do foster carers receive any training?

Our commitment extends beyond the conventional training and development opportunities for our foster carers. We’re on our journey to becoming a trauma-informed organisation, and are actively integrating this trauma-informed approach into our training programmes for our foster carers and staff.

Learn more about the training we offer here.



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