A new partnership between TACT Fostering and global talent leader Randstad aims to help young people in Greater Manchester move out of residential care and into stable, nurturing family homes.  

The Step Forward Scheme responds directly to urgent government calls to recruit more foster carers and reduce reliance on residential care, with Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister warned that too many young people are entering residential care simply because there are not enough foster homes available.  

Supporting Young People Across Greater Manchester 

Many young people in residential care across Greater Manchester are ready to move into a family environment but cannot do so due to a lack of suitable foster carers. 

Step Forward offers a therapeutic, highly supported model designed to help these young people thrive within a family setting that is more suited to their needs. The pilot will work closely with local authorities across the region to identify young people who would benefit from this transition. 

Recruiting Local People with the Right Skills 

The partnership with Randstad aims to reach people across Greater Manchester who may be considering a career change, particularly those working in education, healthcare, youth work, policing, residential care, and social care. 

Alister Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Service Development at TACT, said: “Working with Randstad will help us reach people who may never have considered fostering. The government has been clear about the need to bring more families into fostering, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming to do. By using new recruitment approaches and offering strong support, we can open the door to people who previously felt fostering wasn’t viable for them.”

Richard Sutherland, Randstad Divisional Director, Social Work added: “This is more than a career change; it’s a chance to use your expertise to build a stable future for a child who needs it most, backed by a leading charity and a financial package that truly respects your commitment.” 

Making Fostering a Realistic Career for Local Families 

Step Forward carers can earn up to £54,860, often tax-free, including retainer payments and 28 days of planned breaks supported by a dedicated hub carer. With the cost of living continuing to affect households, TACT says it is essential to make fostering a financially sustainable option if we want more people to consider it. 

Alister Brown added: “People need reassurance that they can support their families while stepping into this role. Talking about the financial side of fostering can feel uncomfortable, but we have to make fostering viable for more people so that more children can live in nurturing family homes.” 

A Local Solution to a National Problem 

The government has been clear that the shortage of foster carers is pushing children into residential care unnecessarily. The Step Forward scheme in Greater Manchester aims to provide a local, practical solution, increasing the number of specialist foster carers and ensuring more young people can grow up in the family homes they deserve. 

Read more about Step Forward Fostering.