What is TAC?

The Together Achieving Change (TAC) process is a way of organising and co-ordinating extra help for children, young people and their families (between the ages of 0–25 years). It is for those who have a number of needs requiring preventative support.

About our TAC Support team

The TAC Support team consists of:

  • TAC Co-ordinator
  • TAC Officers
  • TAC Admin Officers
  • TAC Family Practitioners
  • TAC Family Support Worker

Who can start the TAC process?

The process can be started by anyone who is working with a child, young person or their family (e.g. school teacher, education social worker, school nurse, youth worker, counsellor, a member of one of our community mental health teams or our Welfare Rights unit). 

A young person or parent can also ask for the TAC process to be started themselves by contacting our TAC Support team directly.

How does it work?

The person who has spoken to the family/individual about the TAC process will need to have their consent to complete a Joint Assessment for Families Form (JAFF). This will highlight areas where they may need some extra support.

Once the JAFF form has been completed and received by our team, a TAC Officer will be identified as the main point of contact for the family/individual.

The TAC Officer, the family/individual and everyone working with them will meet together and be part of a TAC team.

About TAC Meetings

TAC meetings are chaired by either the TAC Co-ordinator or TAC Officer. TAC meetings will not go ahead if the family/individual cannot attend and will be re-arranged at their convenience. A discussion will be held about what extra help can be offered to the family/individual.

At the end of the meeting, everyone will be asked if they are in agreement with the decisions made. An action plan will then be completed to see who is doing what to support the family/individual. The action plan is signed by the family/individual and will be reviewed at any future meetings.

Comments about TAC

TAC Launch Day

Parent feedback

‘A’ explained to the group that a TAC has been opened on his son ‘B’. They had been struggling with B’s behaviour for nine years and eventually got a diagnosis of ADHD. B had problems socialising, making friends and had been excluded from school due to his behaviour.

Since the TAC has been open B has attended supervised play schemes and works with a TAC support worker who visits once a week and supports the family and does one to one work with B.

Both A and B have needed extra support as the last few years have been difficult and resulted in A having a breakdown. Things have become so much better for the family. A is now attending college learning to read and write and is going to the gym. His relationship with B is better and they are learning to express their emotions.

B now has a place in the dyslexia unit at school and receives extra support.

Parent feedback

School referred to TAC due to ongoing medical appointments being missed and mum’s initial fears of social services intervention. Working with the TAC team had built mum’s confidence around the barriers she had. Mum had one-to-one support from Supporting People for diet and routines, which came to an end when mum had built up her confidence around her ability to manage, and has made excellent progress. Mum felt TAC gave her the reassurance and determination to succeed as a parent, and felt there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Parent quote 

“TAC has been fantastic…they have helped with schooling for ‘D’ and have been a great support for my husband.

“We have a family worker who takes D out and this relieves pressures on family.

“With the support of the TAC Co-ordinator we were able to get diagnoses from CAMHS for D and if this hadn’t happened D would have always been the ‘naughty boy’. Our TAC Co-ordinator has been amazing, nothing has been too much trouble and she continues to be a constant support.

I can always contact the team with any problems and they will answer any questions.”

Evaluation comments

Family Contact

“TAC process was very beneficial to family, having a knowledgeable yet impartial co-ordinator to facilitate the process.”

‘It allows much improved co-ordination and communication between agencies which may otherwise be unaware of each other.”

‘It appears to have given the parent a great deal of support and guidance and a regular opportunity to share concerns and successes.”

Contact the team

If you would like any further information, you can call our TAC Support team on 01978 295385.