TACT’s permanency practice has been recognised in a new set of Good Practice in Permanence Guides commissioned by the Scottish Government.

The guides, developed by the Association of Fostering, Kinship and Adoption (AFKA) Scotland, are designed to strengthen permanency practice across the country. They will be shared with social work agencies, local authorities and university courses, supporting professionals and students to better understand what high‑quality permanency work looks like.

TACT features several times in the ‘Supporting Families in Permanence Guide’, specifically for our approach to preparing foster carers for permanence and for the work of our Education Service.

For TACT Scotland’s Specialist Permanence Social Worker, Tania Stuart, who contributed to the guides, seeing this recognition in print was a proud moment: “It’s fantastic that TACT has been highlighted as a good practice agency within permanence fostering. To be included several times in a Government‑commissioned guide really shows how much our commitment to high‑quality permanency support is valued.”

Tania attended the guide launch at the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, and was one of 50 professionals across practice, research and government who helped shape the guides.

With universities and local authorities expected to use these newly published guides, TACT’s contribution will help influence permanency practice across Scotland for years to come.

Tania added: “It’s a privilege to be part of a process that transforms lives, not just for the young people, but for the foster carers who open their homes and hearts. Looking ahead, we’ll continue to strengthen our approach, collaborating with carers, colleagues and partners to ensure the best possible outcomes for children in need of long-term care.

“With these guides being shared across Scotland, and significant research on permanency underway by universities and AFKA, I’m excited to see how this work continues to evolve and positively impact young lives.”

What Permanency Means for Young People and Foster Carers

Permanence is a specialist type of foster care arrangement in Scotland that gives children and young people long-term stability when returning to their birth family is not possible. Unlike adoption, the young person remains looked after by the local authority, but foster carers can take on shared parental rights and responsibilities.

For young people, this means a sense of security and belonging, knowing they can stay in their home, school and community without worrying about sudden changes. Many continue living with their permanent carers after turning 18 through the Continuing Care option.

For foster carers, permanency allows them to provide a stable, nurturing environment and make day‑to‑day decisions with confidence. Many speak about the joy of seeing young people grow and thrive over many years. You can find all three of AFKA’s Good Practice in Permanence Guides online.

Read more about Foster Care Permanency.