Published on Tuesday 03 December 2024
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering initiative designed to enhance the support and stability for foster carers and children and young people in foster care.
The Mockingbird Family Model, developed by The Fostering Network, creates an extended family network by grouping foster families together with a central ‘hub home’. The aim of the model is to create a support network similar to that of an extended family, providing children and their carers with support, including sleepovers where appropriate, and shared social activities. This approach has been proven to help children stay with the same carers, reduce isolation, and provide a stronger sense of community.
On Sunday 1 December the council welcomed foster carers, children and young people to join them in marking the launch of the model by coming together for a celebration event.
The key features of the Mockingbird Family Model include:
- A hub home: A central home that provides support to the families within the network
- Extended family network: Foster families are grouped together to create a supportive community, called a constellation
- Enhanced stability: The model aims to reduce placement breakdowns and improve outcomes for children
- Community support: Foster carers receive ongoing training, peer support, and activities for the whole family to strengthen the development of the supportive community.
Richard Burton, Portfolio holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills said: “I have seen this grow from an initial idea to a fully-fledged programme and I am so pleased that we now have our first Mockingbird constellation.
"We are committed to supporting all our children across the BCP area, but we know that those who are in foster care often need some additional help.
"This programme will provide this not only for our children and young people, but also for the dedicated foster carers who give so much. I am very excited to see the positive impact this will have.”
Cathi Hadley, Executive Director for Children’s Servies added: “We are excited to implement the Mockingbird Family Model for our foster carers. This programme is a significant addition to our existing range of support to help our foster families thrive.
"Our foster carers work so hard to help the children and young people in their care, and this approach will enable them to be more connected with other foster carers in the local area. This increased sense of community and shared responsibility will ensure better outcomes for our children and young people.”
Tracy Jose, BCP Council’s first home hub carer concludes: “We are incredibly proud to be part of the launch of the Mockingbird model here at BCP Council. This initiative is all about creating a strong sense of community for foster families—a network where carers and young people feel supported and connected.
“We know from our own experience how isolating fostering can sometimes be, not just for carers but also for the children in our care. Mockingbird changes that by providing a structure where we can all rely on one another, share challenges, and celebrate successes together.
“In our role, we’re here to offer practical support, advice, and encouragement to the families in our constellation. This is a big step forward for fostering across the BCP area, and we’re confident it will bring real, lasting benefits for everyone involved. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible.”