Become a Step Forward Foster Carer - A Life-Changing Opportunity for Pastoral Officers

Foster with TACT Fostering and Bury Council

Are you a Pastoral Officer who supports students through their most vulnerable and challenging moments? You already have the emotional intelligence, safeguarding knowledge, and relationship-building skills to make a life-changing difference in a young person's life.

We are looking for compassionate, supportive individuals like you to become Step Forward Foster Carers — providing a stable, nurturing home to a young person transitioning out of residential care. This is your opportunity to take your school-based experience and create lasting impact in a family environment.

What is Step Forward Fostering?

Step Forward Fostering is a pioneering project that supports young people who have faced trauma, instability, and loss, helping them move from residential care into a safe and loving home.

These young people don't just need a bed — they need someone like you: a consistent adult who understands behaviour, builds trust, and supports emotional wellbeing.

As a Step Forward Foster Carer, you'll be part of a professional support network. You'll never be alone on this journey.

What You'll Receive:

We understand the responsibility that comes with fostering a young person with complex needs — and we'll support you every step of the way, both practically and emotionally.

Specialist Support:

A dedicated Senior Practitioner offering supervision and guidance
A Family Wellbeing Worker to support both you and the child
A Hub Carer providing up to 28 days of planned short breaks each year
24/7 Out-of-Hours Support
Access to a network of other Step Forward Carers for peer support
Ongoing trauma-informed and neurodevelopmental training
Access to therapeutic and psychological support
Financial Package:

We provide a generous fostering allowance so you can focus on providing a safe, stable home.

£1,052 per week while a young person is placed with you (around £54,704 a year)
£408 per week retainer between placements (up to £21,216 a year)
Additional allowances for birthdays, holidays, and cultural celebrations
Tax exemptions specifically for foster carers
Is This You?

We are looking for Pastoral Officers who are:

Passionate about supporting young people beyond the school setting
Experienced in managing challenging behaviour with empathy and structure
Emotionally resilient and committed to helping others grow
Ready to use their pastoral care skills in a family-based environment
If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

To Be Eligible, You'll Need:

Experience working with children or young people in a school or pastoral setting
Full-time availability and a spare bedroom
A willingness to complete our professional training
The right to work in the UK
Take the next step in your career and become a Step Forward Foster Carer. Your experience as a Pastoral Officer could be the foundation for a truly life-changing role