Mockingbird

Introducing a new way of providing foster care in Cumbria

The Mockingbird programme aims to support our foster carers and young people in care, through a support system similar to an extended family network.

Becoming a foster carer can be challenging but this innovative programme focuses on bringing foster carers together to support each other and the children in their care.

The Mockingbird programme works to meet the need for continuity and support for children and young people in care and for additional support for foster carers.

What is Mockingbird?

Led by the Fostering Network, the fostering model is based on the concept of extended family.

It creates a constellation of 6 to 10 ‘satellite’ fostering families who are supported by an experienced ‘hub home’ foster. This support could include:

monthly social events for families, providing peer interaction and support for caregivers, children and young people
unlimited access to social support and mentoring for satellite carers
planned and emergency respite care 24/7, including daycare and overnight stays

The model nurtures the relationships between children, young people and foster families supporting them to build a resilient and caring community.

Why use the Mockingbird Family Model?

Mockingbird has been shown to have significant benefits for all involved:

Because of its structure, Mockingbird helps ease the sense of isolation foster carers can feel.
It offers immediate practical support, similar to that a non-fostering family might receive from friends and relatives.
This has been proven to improve placement stability for children in care, prioritise sibling connections, promote active child protection, support permanence and improve the support provided to foster carers.

Please take the time to watch these short videos which shows the impact of Mockingbird for foster carers and the children they care for:

Get in touch

If you're an existing foster carer who would like to find out about joining a constellation, you should contact your support social worker for more information. Prospective foster carers can share their interest in joining the Mockingbird scheme in the future during the application process.