Start Your Fostering Journey
Can I foster?
The first step is to check that you fulfil the basic general fostering requirements:
- Are you at least 21 years old?
- Do you have at least one spare bedroom in your home?
- Are you a full-time resident of the UK, or do you have indefinite leave to remain?
If you have answered ‘yes’ to all three questions, you have fulfilled the initial criteria. We would now like to talk to you further about why you would like to become a foster carer, and ask you some more questions.
Why Choose TACT?
We make sure that each and everyone of our foster carers feel empowered working alongside TACT. Together, we are making a difference and helping to improve the lives of vulnerable young people.
Pay & Allowances
Foster carers are highly skilled people, and our fees and allowances reflect this.
The total fostering allowance that you receive will vary based on a number of factors, including the type of foster care you are providing, the number or children that you care for and their age, as well as the complexity of their needs.
As a foster carer, you are paid on a fortnightly basis, while you have a child living with you. It is important to consider that you will not be paid any fees or allowances for any period where you are not providing care for a child.
Here at TACT, we like to be transparent with our fees and allowances – and not provide unrealistic or unobtainable examples of our fees.
The Fostering Process
Each stage of the journey is described in more detail below.
Questions About Fostering?
Are there different types of fostering agencies?
Foster carer’s in the UK have the choice of registering to work with a local authority or with an independent fostering agency (IFA). Here at TACT we are classed as an IFA, but unlike many others, we are a charity who make zero profit from the work we do. This means all our surplus income is reinvested into helping the children we care for and their foster carers.
How much do foster carers get paid?
As soon as you’re an approved foster carer with TACT and begin caring for a young person, you will immediately receive a fostering allowance.
The total fostering allowance that you receive will vary based on a number of factors, including the type of foster care you are providing, the number or children that you care for and their age, as well as the complexity of their needs.
Find out how much you’ll be paid here.
What support do foster carers receive?
For total piece of mind, TACT provide their foster carers with 24/7 support. When you become a foster carer with us, you will be allocated your own Supervising Social Worker – who will provide most of the support that you will need.
We have also developed a set of specialist support services including Therapeutic Support and our Education Team.
Are there different types of fostering?
Children and young people come into care for different reasons which is why there are different types of foster care.
Some of our foster carers specialise in specific types of foster care, whereas others have skills and experience that allow them to provide a wide range of different care. Whichever type of foster care you are interested in providing, we will offer you a whole range of training and support to help you grow your knowledge so you can offer the best care possible.
Do foster carers receive any training?
Our commitment extends beyond the conventional training and development opportunities for our foster carers. We’re on our journey to becoming a trauma-informed organisation, and are actively integrating this trauma-informed approach into our training programmes for our foster carers and staff.
Find Your Local Team
Each and every one of our fostering teams are built on a foundation of trust, care and support.
We have created positive relationships with our foster carers and have developed opportunities to allow our foster carers to form strong bonds with one another.
Our foster carers tell us that the connections that they have built in their local teams are an invaluable part of their fostering journey.
Enter your postcode or location to find your nearest team.
hear from our Foster Carers
Discover all of the amazing reasons why our foster carers have chosen to foster with TACT.
“My son has always helped to support & mentor our foster children”
Trina has been a foster carer with TACT Wales since 2009. She share’s more here about her birth son’s impact on her fostering family.
“Our daily lives have changed so much”
Carol talks about fostering during the pandemic, and how they have made a difference to a child with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD).
“Male foster carers can have a real positive influence”
Although Nathan fosters with his wife, Rachael, he talks about being a male role model in his fostering household.
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