Fostering in Bristol

There are many children in Bristol who cannot be looked after by their own family. This could be because of illness or family breakdowns or because they have experienced some form of neglect. TACT are recruiting foster carers in Bristol to provide care and support to these children. If you have got a spare bedroom, a caring nature and energy to provide a child with a happy home, we believe you could join our Fostering Bristol team.

Jump to a section

Can I Foster in Bristol?

Training & 24/7 Support

Pay & Allowances

Can I foster in Bristol?

You don’t need any previous experience to start fostering in Bristol. 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.

Enquire Now

Full Training

You don’t need any prior experience or training to become a foster carer.

We offer thorough training to ensure you feel confident and well-prepared to welcome children into your home. This training is available both online and in person.

During the assessment process, you’ll complete an introductory course called Skills to Foster. This short online program provides an overview of fostering and gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have.

Once approved as a TACT foster carer, you’ll gain access to a wide range of training opportunities designed to strengthen your skills and support children and young people in Bristol.

We also provide specialised training to prepare you for caring for children with specific needs or challenges.

Enquire Now

24/7 Support

At TACT, we recognise how vital it is to have reliable, round-the-clock support as a foster carer. That’s why we reinvest all surplus funds into enhancing our services, ensuring help is always available when you need it.

As a TACT foster carer, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Supervising Social Worker with a manageable caseload, allowing them to offer tailored guidance and support, helping you make a positive impact on children’s lives.

This is what we provide:

Full 24/7 support. Your Supervising Social Worker will be your main point of contact, with an out-of-hours service always available for advice and assistance.
Foster carer portal. A user-friendly online platform providing access to essential information, training, resources, and guidance to support you throughout your fostering journey.

Education service. A specialist team dedicated to helping children in your care reach their full potential through personalised educational support.
Health service. Regular assessments to monitor and promote the physical and emotional well-being of children in your care.
Support groups. Local groups in Bristol and nearby areas where you can connect with other foster carers, share experiences, and build a strong support network.
Therapeutic support groups. Monthly groups to support foster carers who are providing care for children who have experienced complex trauma and/or attachment disruption.
Support for young people. Our Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners organise activities, events, and resources to enhance the experiences of the children in your care.
Supporting your own children. We recognise the role your own children play in fostering. Through our Children Who Foster events, they can connect with peers in similar situations and share their experiences.
Peer support. Whenever possible, experienced TACT foster carers are available to provide practical advice, encouragement, and peer-to-peer support for new carers.

Enquire Now

Our Therapeutic Support Groups

Caring for children who have experienced complex trauma and/or attachment disruption demands specialised skills and professional support.

These children often perceive the world as dangerous and relationships as unreliable due to their past experiences. As a result, they may develop patterns of behaviour in their interpersonal relationships that can quickly escalate into difficult and overwhelming situations.

Our monthly Therapeutic Support Groups provide foster carers with a safe, non-judgmental space to reflect on their experiences within a supportive peer group. There will also be opportunities to discuss behaviours and topics that can enrich the group’s skills, successes, and resources. Participating in trauma-informed discussions about hopes and challenges can enhance resilience and deepen the understanding of the emotional lives of the children in their care.

Pay & Allowances

Foster carers are dedicated professionals, and our fees and allowances reflect the critical role they play in transforming children’s lives.

Through our partnership with Bristol City Council, we receive funding to support the care of children and young people in the community. This funding allows us to provide exceptional services and comprehensive support to our foster carers.

The fostering allowance you receive will vary based on factors such as the type of care you provide, 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 Bristol payments you could receive when a young person is placed in your care:

Allowance for caring for a single child

Receive an average of £476 per week

Allowance for caring for two children

Receive an average of £952 per week

Allowance for caring for a child with additional needs

Receive an average of £549 per week

Allowance for caring for a parent and their child

Receive an average of £813 per week

Enquire Now

Elaine looks after our fostering Bristol team

Meet The Area Manager

“TACT South West are committed to supporting everyone who comes into contact with us to understand and embed diversity, inclusion, and trauma-informed/responsive practices into their everyday lives.”

Elaine Graham – TACT Area Manager South West

Elaine has worked in fostering and adoption teams since qualifying in 1991. She joined TACT in 2003.

Enquire Now

Rated ‘Outstanding’ By Ofsted

Following an inspection in June 2022, Ofsted have announced that TACT South West has been rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ for its work with foster carers and looked after children.

“Children build trusting and loving relationships with carers. Carers are skilled in helping children develop family-like bonds that enable them to recognise healthy relationships and trusting adults.” – Ofsted 2022

24/7 Support

Training

Pay & Allowances

What Our Foster Carers Say

“I went online to research several fostering agencies and TACT really stood out to me. I loved the fact that they are a charity. They have given us brilliant support and no matter what happens, we never feel like we are on our own.”