Fostering in Sandwell
Could you change a child’s life in Sandwell? Could you provide them with a caring and nurturing home? Every week, children and young people come into care, for lots of different reasons – and through no fault of their own. TACT are recruiting foster carers in Sandwell in order to provide these children with safe and caring homes. If this sounds like something that you could do, you could join our Fostering Sandwell Team!
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Can I foster in Sandwell?
You don’t need any previous experience to start fostering in Sandwell. 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 qualifications are needed to become a foster carer.
We offer comprehensive training to ensure you feel confident and ready to welcome children into your home. This training is available both online and in person.
As part of the assessment process, you’ll complete an introductory course called Skills to Foster. This short online course provides an overview of fostering and gives you the chance to ask any questions you may have.
Once approved as a TACT foster carer, you’ll have access to a variety of training opportunities aimed at developing your skills to help support children and young people in Sandwell.
We also provide specialised training to assist you in caring for children with specific needs or challenges.
24/7 Support
At TACT, we recognise the importance of dependable, around-the-clock support for foster carers. 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 will receive support from a dedicated Supervising Social Worker with a manageable caseload. This enables them to provide personalised guidance, helping you make a lasting positive difference in the lives of children.
This is what we provide:
- Full 24/7 support. Your Supervising Social Worker will be your primary contact, with an out-of-hours service available to provide advice and assistance whenever needed.
- Foster carer portal. A user-friendly online platform offering access to essential information, training, resources, and guidance throughout your fostering journey.
- Education service. A specialised team focused on helping the children in your care reach their full educational potential with customised support.
- Health service. Regular assessments to monitor and ensure the physical and emotional well-being of the children you care for.
- Support groups. Local groups in Sandwell and surrounding areas where you can connect with other foster carers, share experiences, and build a supportive community.
- Support for young people. Our Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners organise activities, events, and resources to enrich the lives of the children in your care.
- Supporting your own children. Recognising the important role your children play in fostering, we offer Children Who Foster events where they can connect with peers and share their experiences.
- Peer support. Experienced TACT foster carers are available to provide practical advice, encouragement, and peer-to-peer guidance to new carers whenever possible.
Our TACTIC Clinics
When a young person is placed with one of our foster carers, we organise an attachment clinic to assess their needs and identify any specific support they may require. Based on this assessment, we create a personalised support and training plan tailored to the individual needs of both the foster carer and the young person.
Additionally, TACT West Midlands hosts a monthly TACTIC Clinic. These clinics provide foster families and professionals with a space to reflect on the young person’s progress and current needs. This collaborative approach enables foster carers to offer responsive, attuned care, fostering secure and healthy relationships while supporting the young person’s recovery from early-life challenges.
Our TACTIC Clinics are essential in promoting long-term stability and well-being for the young people in our care.
Pay & Allowances
Foster carers are highly skilled professionals, and our fees and allowances reflect the crucial role they play in transforming the lives of children and young people.
In collaboration with Sandwell Council, we receive funding to support the care of children within the community. This funding allows us to deliver exceptional services and offer 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 Sandwell payments you could receive when a young person is placed in your care:
Meet The Area Manager
“I’ve had the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with foster carers who are passionate about helping children and young people to reach their potential. Together, we make sure that every carer and child feels supported, valued, and truly part of the team. I take great pride in creating opportunities for children to grow, knowing that every success is a shared achievement across our team.”
Diane Green – TACT Area Manager West Midlands
Diane first joined the team as an interim manager and returned in 2021, drawn to TACT’s not-for-profit values.
Rated ‘Good’ By Ofsted
Following an inspection in July 2023, Ofsted have announced that TACT West Midlands has been rated ‘Good’ for its work with foster carers and looked after children.
“Staff and foster carers work effectively and in close partnership. Children make good progress from their starting points. This is because of the excellent care that they receive from their foster carers and the agency support network around them.” – Ofsted 2023
What Our Foster Carers Say
“I liked the fact they were a charity, and made no profit from fostering – all their surplus income is reinvested back into the children. TACT have been brilliant to me since I was approved. All the training I’ve attended has been excellent and I can’t fault the support I’ve received. All advice I’ve been given and discussions I’ve had with members of staff have been really helpful to me – knowing there is someone there to provide support whenever you need it is a massive comfort.”
Dawn – TACT Foster Carer since 2017
Fostering Information Events
- March 3, 2025
- Birmingham, West Midlands,
- Time: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Birmingham Fostering Information Event
TACT West Midlands are hosting a Fostering Information Session at the RCNi Birmingham Nursing Careers & Jobs Fair on Monday 3rd March between 9.30am – 4pm.
Start Your Fostering Journey
