Mockingbird is a global award-winning and pioneering model, created in 2004 in Seattle, and led by The Fostering Network in the UK since 2015 with huge success.
It brings together multiple caring families (foster carers and kinship carers) in ‘constellations’, with one central ‘hub home’ and multiple ‘satellites’, as well as a liaison worker employed by the Council.
Sam Gordon Head of Corporate Parenting and a care experienced person said, “Every constellation of caring families is different, but they all provide the same support, shaped to the families’ needs. And each family offers guidance and support to each other.
“The peer support within Mockingbird means that carers are seeking support earlier on from each other and problems can be identified and resolved before they reach a crisis.
“There are social events at least once a month for the whole constellation, for adults and children alike. There are also sleepovers, as Mockingbird aims to move away from seeing respite as last resort for stressed families, and towards a more flexible arrangement of planned and emergency sleepovers that better suit families’ needs.”
Sam added; “There are also regular events, at least every month, for the satellite carers. These enable carers to develop relationships, support each other, and learn and develop together. These can be anything from informal coffee mornings to planned training events.”
Cllr Jane Walker, Portfolio Holder for Valuing Families, Children's Services said; “The Mockingbird Family model brings caring families together to improve permanence, create lifelong links, share and develop skills and stabilise children’s relationships with their carers - it truly is an amazing and exciting opportunity. If our first constellation is successful we hope to ensure every child, young person and carer has the opportunity to be part of this family-led model.”