Children and young people in care across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford and Wrekin are benefiting from a new family-based approach of foster care.
Together4Children is a partnership bringing together four local authority fostering services to deliver the Mockingbird project.
The programme provides extra support to foster carers and children alike, by creating a network of fostering households to replicate the structure of an extended family.
A hub carer sits at the heart of the network, known as a constellation. They offer friendship, support and guidance, as well as organising celebration events and fun outings. They are also a source of valuable advice; in the way any grandparent figure might be in a traditional extended family.
Telford and Wrekin Council, lead authority for the project and the first to establish a constellation, have seen families grow closer and relationships flourish. Shanice Evason, a Mockingbird foster carer in the first constellation said: “Mockingbird has been an incredible source of support for our child, my husband and me. It has given us an additional opportunity to make friends with other foster carers. We mutually support one another as though we are one big family. The hub carer, who is like our family’s grandparent figure, has been amazing.”
Staffordshire hub carer, Jacquie Forrester said: “I am proud to be able to offer support to carers and their families when needed, even if it’s only a short telephone conversation. I am happy in the knowledge that they know I am there for them to support in any way I can. It’s testament to us all that in such a short time, we have built solid relationships within our constellation.”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council hub carer, Helen said: “Being a hub carer family and being able to support carers, foster children and birth children is amazing. Our constellation is bonding, and we are building new friendships that will enable practical and emotional support for the years to come. We are very proud of being in the Mockingbird project.”
Formed in April 2021, Together4Children is the regional partnership that delivers adoption and permanency services for the four authorities. The partnership includes Telford and Wrekin Council, Staffordshire County Council, Shropshire Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The partnership has established its fourth Mockingbird constellation.
Leading fostering charity, The Fostering Network, delivers the Mockingbird fostering programme. Anyone interested in finding out more about the programme or fostering for their local authority can find out more at www.together4children.co.uk/mockingbird
