Mockingbird Fostering Model
Fostering with Bristol City Council gives you the potential to be part of the innovative Mockingbird programme, developed by The Fostering Network.
This model is designed to provide foster carers with a supportive community, enhancing the fostering experience for both carers and children.
What is Mockingbird
Having begun in North America, the Mockingbird model of foster care is now being delivered by The Fostering Network in partnership with fostering services across the UK. It's a pioneering approach to foster care that creates a network of support for fostering families.
Mockingbird aims to deliver a sustainable model of foster care through a network of six to ten satellite homes supported by a hub home carer, forming a constellation. Mockingbird was first piloted in the UK in 2015, with Bristol launching its first Constellation in 2024.
How does the Mockingbird model work
Mockingbird is a support network for foster families. Between six and ten families come together to form a constellation. The constellation is supported by an experienced and welcoming hub home carer, situated in a hub home.
Support and advice for families
The hub home carer assists all the families by offering support and advice for all other carers in the constellation. It might be helpful to think of the support that a hub home carer provides as being like the support a grandparent might provide to a non-fostering family.
Liaison worker
The hub home carer is supervised by a Mockingbird liaison worker from the fostering service, the liaison worker also maintains oversight of the constellation.
Young people
From being a part of a constellation, young people get to meet people who share some of the experiences they may have had.
They then get to do things together that others might take for granted, like go on trips, go on walks, celebrate birthdays, and have sleepovers.
Mockingbird: A really big family
What is a Mockingbird constellation
A constellation is just the name for the supportive, resilient, and caring community of foster families within the Mockingbird programme.
As part of a constellation, relationships between children, young people, and foster families are nurtured. As a result, families are empowered to support each other and overcome problems before they escalate or lead to placement breakdown.
What are the benefits of Mockingbird
Mockingbird offers the following benefits to our foster carers:
- Stronger support networks for foster carers and children, reducing stress and isolation.
- Better stability for children. By providing a consistent and familiar network, children have a greater sense of belonging and security.
- Early interventions and emergency support, preventing breakdown and supporting carers.
- Improved communications between carers, social workers and other professionals working to support fostering families.
- Beyond individual support, the programme strengthens the fostering community by encouraging peer connections and regular social activities.
Want to join a constellation
Join us as a Bristol City Council foster carer to find out more about this exciting project by contacting fostering@bristol.gov.uk
