Fostering in Dorset
In Dorset, there are many children and young people who desperately need safe and caring homes – because they are unable to live with their own families. Family conflict may be the reason for this, or even an illness. However, the most common reason why children come into care is because of neglect or abuse. TACT are recruiting foster carers in Dorset to provide safe and caring homes to these children, enabling them to rebuild their lives and move towards independence when they become young adults. If this sounds like something that you could do, you could join our Fostering Dorset Team!
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Can I foster in Dorset?
You don’t need any previous experience to start fostering in Dorset. To proceed with an application, you would need to meet this initial criteria:
- To be over 21 years old (there is no upper age limit)
- To have at least one spare bedroom
- To be a full-time resident in the UK or have indefinite leave to remain
You would also need the time and flexibility to dedicate yourself to fostering. Good written and spoken English is essential, as you would be required to work with other professionals, and provide written records detailing the progress of any young people in your care.
Full Training
No prior experience or training is required to become a foster carer.
We provide comprehensive training to ensure you are well-prepared to care for children in your home. Training is available both in-person and online.
The initial training, called Skills To Foster, is completed online as part of the foster carer assessment process. This brief course offers an introduction to fostering and gives you the chance to ask any questions.
Once you’re approved as a foster carer with TACT, you will receive a complete training program designed to enhance your skills, enabling you to care for and make a positive impact on more children and young people in the Dorset area.
We also offer specialised training to support you in caring for children with specific needs or requirements.
24/7 Support
Dedicated support is key to making a difference to children’s lives. We reinvest any surplus income to improve the support we offer to our fostering families, ensuring that you always have the assistance you need.
Once you become an approved TACT foster carer, you will be assigned a dedicated Supervising Social Worker. With manageable caseloads, our Supervising Social Workers can spend more time with you. We believe that with the right support, you will be better equipped to provide the care and guidance that positively impacts children’s lives.
This is what we provide:
- Full 24/7 support. Your Supervising Social Worker will typically be your main point of contact for assistance, but our out-of-hours service ensures that support or advice is always available when needed.
- Foster carer portal. An online platform that serves as a central hub for TACT foster carers, providing easy access to essential information, advice, training, and resources to assist you in your daily role.
- Education service. A specialised service offering guidance and support to ensure the children in your care have access to the best educational opportunities.
- Health service. Our health team closely monitors the physical and mental well-being of the children in your care.
- Support groups. Local support groups in Dorset and surrounding areas provide opportunities for you to meet and connect with other carers and share experiences.
- Support for young people. Our Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners offer additional support, activities, and events for the children in your care in the Dorset area.
- Supporting your own children. We understand the important role your own children play in a fostering household. Our Children Who Foster events give your children the chance to connect with other young people involved in fostering.
- Peer support. When available, peer-to-peer support pairs new foster carers with experienced TACT carers to provide additional guidance and assistance.
Pay & Allowances
Foster carers are skilled professionals, and our fees and allowances are designed to recognise and value the essential work they do.
In collaboration with Dorset Council, we receive funding to support the care of children and young people in the region. This funding enables us to provide comprehensive services and assistance to our committed team of foster carers. The fostering allowance you receive will depend on factors such as the type of care offered, the number and ages of 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 Dorset payments you could receive when a young person is placed in your care:
Meet The Area Manager
“I have always worked with children from 0-18 years in a variety of settings including the NHS, Local Authorities, and small Charitable organisations. TACT’s ethos is putting the child at the centre and that resonates with me – making TACT a charity I am proud to be a part of.”
Christine McGillvary – TACT Area Manager London & The South
Christine is truly passionate about making a difference to children’s lives. She manages our great team of social workers that cover the South Coast – ensuring that our team of foster parents are fully supported. Christine has over 19 years’ experience in fostering, specifically within the charitable sector.
Rated ‘Good’ By Ofsted
Following an inspection in January 2022, Ofsted have announced that TACT London & the South has been rated ‘Good’ for its work with foster carers and looked after children.
“The fostering service provides a good quality of care, and the experiences and outcomes for children are very positive. Children, many of whom have complex needs, receive personalised care that meets their needs, and they are kept safe.” – Ofsted, 2022
What Our Foster Carers Say
“After looking at various agencies, we gravitated towards TACT as it was a not-for-profit, meaning we knew the funding would be spent on the children and carers. Also, it being a charity was appealing to us.”
Nathan and Rachael – TACT Foster Carers since 2020
Fostering Information Events
- January 9, 2025
- Hampshire, London,
- Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Hampshire Fostering Information Event
TACT London & The South are hosting a Fostering Information Session at Emsworth Baptist Church on Thursday 9th January between 10am – 12.30pm.
- April 11, 2025
- London
- Time: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Hammersmith Fostering Information Event
TACT London are hosting a Fostering Information Session at RCNI London West Nursing Careers & Jobs Fair on Friday 11th April 2025 between 9.30am – 4pm.
Start Your Fostering Journey
