Fostering
What is the Mockingbird programme?
The Fostering Network’s Mockingbird programme is an innovative way of delivering foster care using the Mockingbird Family Model. This is an extended family model that has the potential to improve placement stability, security, safety and permanence for children. It improves peer support for foster carers, includes regular joint planning and training, and social activities.
The programme improves the stability of fostering placements and strengthens the relationships between carers, children and young people, fostering services and birth families.
About The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity. They're the essential network for fostering; bringing together everyone who's involved in the lives of fostered children. They support foster carers to transform children’s lives and we work with fostering services and the wider sector to develop and share best practice.
They work to make sure all fostered children and young people experience stable family life and are passionate about the difference foster care makes. They champion fostering and seek to create vital change so that foster care is the very best it can be.
How can I get involved?
We've successfully achieved funding for two years from the Department for Education (DfE) and are working with The Fostering Network to deliver the Mockingbird Family Model in Barnsley.
We’re looking for experienced carers, or professionals from a caring background, to be a part of this innovative method of delivering foster care.
Details of the roles available are below.
Hub home carer
Hub home carers:
- have a crucial role in the constellation;
- are the key communicator between the hub home, satellite carer homes and the service;
- have a close working relationship with the liaison social worker;
- offer planned, unplanned, emergency, outreach and day care for the children in the constellation;
- co-ordinate social activities and support meetings;
- support the delivery of training opportunities to constellation carers;
- work in partnership with a child’s care plan.
Satellite carer
Satellite carers:
- work with the hub home carers;
- have a key role in communication and relationships with the liaison social worker;
- keep daily logs and records;
- assist with planned, unplanned or emergency care for a child in your care;
- participate in regular constellation activities, support groups and training opportunities;
- work in partnership with children’s social workers.
