Mockingbird Fostering Model

What Mockingbird is, the benefits and how to join.

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 Mockingbird is

Originating 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.

Mockingbird is a pioneering approach to sustainable foster care through creating a network of support for fostering families. It was first piloted in 2015. Bristol launched its first Mockingbird project in 2024.

Watch a video that explains what Mockingbird is

Mockingbird is based on the concept that it takes a village to raise a child. It's an evidence-based model structured around the support and relationships an extended family provides. It empowers foster families to support each other and overcome problems before they escalate and offers children a more positive experience of care.

In the model, between 6 and 10 families come together to form a constellation. A constellation is the name for the supportive, resilient and caring community of foster families, or satellite carers, within the Mockingbird programme. As part of a constellation, relationships between children, young people and foster families are nurtured.

The constellation is supported by an experienced and welcoming hub home carer, situated in a hub home. The hub home carer assists all the families by offering support and advice for all other carers in the constellation. They:

• provide support and leadership, offering guidance and advice to all families in the constellation
• host social activities such as coffee mornings and training sessions to build community and resilience
• provide planned and emergency sleepovers for children when satellite carers need a break or face challenges
• advocate for children and carers and help maintain stability and permanency in placements
• prevent placement breakdown by working closely with carers to resolve issues early and strengthen relationships

It might be helpful to think of it like a hub home carer providing support as a grandparent would to their family.

The hub home carer is supervised by a Mockingbird liaison worker from the Fostering Service. In Bristol, the liaison worker also has oversight of the constellation.

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 it like a hub home carer providing support as a grandparent would to their family.

The hub home carer is supervised by a Mockingbird liaison worker from the Fostering Service. In Bristol, the liaison worker also has oversight of the constellation.

Watch a video that explains how Mockingbird works

Benefits of Mockingbird

Mockingbird offers:

• stronger support networks for foster carers and children, reducing stress and isolation
• a consistent and familiar network, giving children a greater sense of belonging, security and stability
• 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.

Join a Bristol Mockingbird constellation

Join us as a Bristol City Council foster carer and find out more about this exciting project. Email fostering@bristol.gov.uk