Fostering in the North West

Hi, I’m Jon – the Area Manager for TACT North West. I’m so pleased you’re interested in finding out more about fostering. We have such an amazing team here in the North West – we really do pride ourselves on providing the highest level of support to all of our foster carers and young people. If you’d like to speak to myself or one of our foster carers to find out more about what it’s like to foster with TACT North West then just get in touch and we can get it arranged.

I joined TACT in 2014, previously working in the local authority and another fostering charity in Manchester and Liverpool. Since my time with TACT I have seen huge developments in the support services we can offer to our families and children, it is my proudest professional achievement to have been part of this. Outside of work I love spending time with my family, while the rest of the time is spent football related, either at Anfield or running a local youth grassroots team. To be honest if there is a game of football on the park I will stop and watch whoever is playing.

Vicky
Deputy Area Manager

I have worked with the North West Team since 2018, after qualifying as a social worker in 2010 and working in several different Local Authorities across the North West. I feel genuinely honoured to work alongside such dedicated, caring colleagues and foster carers across TACT who share the same passion of making a difference to children and young peoples’ lives. I am passionate about ensuring foster carers receive good quality support in order to support children and young people to achieve and reach their full potential. I also love animals and currently have two cats and a rabbit. I have a dream of opening up an animal rescue centre somewhere hot and sunny one day.

Lisa
Therapeutic Social Worker

I qualified in social work in 2012 and spent my first two years as a social worker in a busy Local Authority child protection team. I joined TACT in 2014 as a duty social worker and over the years my role has changed to supervising social worker and finally to my current role as the therapeutic lead within the team. I have completed my level 1 and 2 training in DDP and I am working towards becoming a certified DDP practitioner. I am extremely passionate about working with children, young people and their families and I cannot imagine a job that is more rewarding than the work we do. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and love travelling to different places. I am always planning my next holiday! Fun fact – I am a mum of four children under 6 and my eldest two are non–identical twins!

Jess
Children and young peoples’ wellbeing Practitioner

I joined TACT in 2017, and I am honoured every day to work alongside the children and young people, and such a great team of colleagues and foster carers. I have worked for local authorities in both London and Liverpool and even worked abroad as a Thomson’s kids rep (in my youth). TACT as a charity lives and breathes its values, which makes a big difference to the lives of our children and young people. My fun fact is that I was once spotted to be in a Hollywood movie but would rather be part of TACT any day of the week!

Mandy P
Family Finder

I’ve worked for TACT since 2023 and feel very lucky to work in such a caring and supportive team. My first job when I was 16, was working with children in a creche and I have continued to work with children since.

I’m delighted to now work in an organisation that truly cares about children and their futures. At home I have a 10 year old, 5 cats and 3 guinea pigs which keep me busy!

Maureen
Admin Manager

I have been with TACT as Admin Manager since 2004 and have seen and been a part of TACT’s journey throughout that time to see it become the dedicated, caring, compassionate company to our young people and foster carers. Throughout my career I have had various roles, but I can quite honestly say that being part of the TACT NW team and working with such wonderful colleagues has been the most rewarding and enjoyable venture. Little known fact – my husband and I share the same birthday We were born on the same day, 25 September, in the same hospital.

Mandi C
Senior Supervising Social Worker

I qualified as a nursery nurse when I left school and since then I have always worked with children. Over the years I have worked in nurseries, as a nanny for two young children, on board a cruise ship with a busy children’s program, and prior to joining TACT I worked in a local authority safeguarding team. I joined TACT in July 2018 as a supervising social worker. I was attracted to TACT’s charity status and their people-centred approach. I love being a part of the North-West team and I’m proud of the positive difference we make to our children and young peoples’ lives. I work closely with the foster carers to ensure the best outcomes for our children. As a team, we were recently recognised as ‘outstanding’ following an OFSTED Inspection, what an achievement! Fun fact – I speak two languages. I learnt Italian in 1992 and years later, I lived in Italy.

Yvonne
Senior Supervising Social Worker

I have recently joined TACT North West, and finding my way around. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and helped me settle in. I have worked in different Local Authorities and specialised in childcare. I did most of my frontline social work with Liverpool and progressed into management there. I enjoy working with children and ensuring their care plans are progressing well and children have the best outcomes. I am looking forward to working with their carers and supporting them.

I am busy in my free time, caring for my Niece and acting as her private taxi driver 🙂

Audrey
Panel Administrator and Family Finder

I’ve worked within the admin team for TACT North West for 7 years, and I am both Panel Administrator and part time Family Finder.

I have worked for charity/non-profit organisations for over 30 years and TACT North West have the most amazing, supportive and professional people, it is a pleasure to be a part of our team.

Mike
Senior Supervising Social Worker

I have been working for TACT since November 2008 and thoroughly enjoy being part of the team. I was drawn to pursue a career as a Social Worker in the late 1990’s after having worked for several years in a supporting role to children and young adults with learning / complex disabilities. In my spare time I enjoy watching Liverpool Football Club and helping out at a local football team.

Keeley
Senior Supervising Social Worker

I joined TACT in 2022, after working in a busy court team as a Children’s Social Worker for a Local Authority. I am driven to create and sustain positive changes for children and young people and genuinely strive to achieve positive outcomes for them.

“We’re so proud to think we helped them achieve their goals.”

“My partner Bill and I started fostering with TACT 12 years ago. However, we started thinking about fostering much earlier, probably ten years before that, but we decided to wait for our daughter to grow up a bit. We finally became foster carers when she was 13 and was old enough to understand what her parents are doing and why. Also, at that time, we both felt like we needed a change in life…”

“The children have enriched our lives beyond recognition”

“Bob and I had planned for quite a while to become foster carers, and even purposely bought a bigger house. Soon after we’d been cleared to welcome someone else into our lives, we went from zero children to three – which was quite a shock! Our daily routines changed and there was an overwhelming responsibility placed on us…”