Welcome to the April edition of our local council fostering newsletter!
We’re so excited to have you with us as we dive into the rewarding world of fostering. In this edition, we’ve got a mix of sections to introduce you to our amazing foster carers, explore the different types of fostering, and show you why fostering with your local council can be such a fulfilling experience.
So, no matter where you are on your fostering journey, we hope you’ll enjoy reading more below. Don’t forget, we’re here for you whenever you feel ready to take the next step, or if you just want some of your questions answered.
Get to know our local council foster carers – Jacqueline, Gloucestershire County Council
Meet Jacqueline, a foster carer for Gloucestershire County Council. In the video she shares some memorable moments from her time as a foster carer as well as her advice to prospective carers and much more!
To get to know more of our local council foster carers, visit our stories page.
The Benefits of the Mockingbird Fostering Model & Swindon Borough Council’s First Constellation
Swindon Borough Council are delighted to announce the launch of their first Mockingbird constellation! The Mockingbird Family Model is an innovative approach to foster care that emulates the structure of an extended family, aiming to provide children with a stable and nurturing family experience. Developed by The Fostering Network, this model clusters six to ten fostering households, known as “satellite families,” around a central “hub home” operated by an experienced foster carer, who is supported by a liaison worker from their local council’s fostering team. This configuration, referred to as a “constellation,” offers a robust support network for both carers and the children in their care.
Benefits of the Mockingbird Model
- Enhanced Stability for Children – By fostering a supportive community, the Mockingbird model helps prevent breakdowns, ensuring that children experience fewer disruptions and greater consistency in their living arrangements.
- Peer Support for Carers – The model alleviates the sense of isolation that foster carers can sometimes feel by providing immediate practical and emotional support, similar to that offered by an extended family.
- Access to Respite Care – The hub home offers planned and emergency sleepovers, giving satellite families essential respite and contributing to the overall stability for fostering households.
- Community Building – Regular social activities and joint training sessions within the constellation promote a sense of belonging and shared purpose among carers and children alike.
Swindon Borough Council’s First Constellation
In line with Swindon’s commitment to providing high quality, family-based care, we are launching our first Mockingbird constellation. This initiative aligns with the Council’s values to enhance support for foster carers and improve outcomes for children being cared for.
If you’re interested to learn more about fostering with Swindon, contact their friendly team on 07917 503 447 or via email on fosteringrecruitment@swindon.gov.uk or take on look on their website www.swindon.gov.uk for further details on how you can make a difference in a child’s life.
Types of Fostering – Short Breaks (Respite Care)
Short break support, or respite care, is a wonderful service where foster carers step in to look after children for short periods. This gives families and caregivers who are looking after children with additional needs a bit of temporary support and relief.
Often, everyone is working together to create longer-term plans and, ideally, to reunite the child with their birth family. But this process can take time, and sometimes it might not be possible at all.
Short break support also gives primary carers a much-needed break, allowing them to recharge and take care of personal needs. Meanwhile, children get to stay in a safe and welcoming space, ensuring they are well cared for during these times.
Why foster for your local council – Benefit from an increased detail or speed of matching
One of the most important aspects of fostering is ensuring the right match between the fostering family and the child. We take great care in assessing the needs of both the child and the prospective fostering family to ensure that the placement is beneficial for everyone involved.
Local authorities play a crucial role in finding the right foster homes for children when they need them. Our partner local councils prioritise matching children with their own foster carers first. Since they have recruited, assessed, and trained these carers, they have a deep understanding of how well they can meet the needs of the children in their care. This allows them to find an appropriate match more quickly for their fostering families.
Foster carers working with our partner local councils have direct access to a network of support and knowledge that guides care planning for all children, without the involvement of a third party. This significantly enhances the speed and quality of decision-making.
Events
As we enter spring and summer, our and our partner local council’s events calendars are ramping up with a range of both in-person and virtual events over the coming months!
Take the opportunity to go to an event, chat with foster carers and ask fostering teams any questions you may have. Our Fostering South West team will be attending some of these in partnership with our south west local councils.
Click the button below to find events suitable for you and use our handy map view to see which ones are nearest to you. Make sure to check back regularly as this page will be updated.
Recommended Resources
In this edition of our newsletter, we’re excited to highlight a special book that can make a big difference for children in foster care: “Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care”. This insightful and compassionate book is designed to help children understand the complexities and emotions associated with being in foster care.
“Maybe Days” gently addresses the uncertainties and questions that children might have about their situation. With clear, age-appropriate language and engaging illustrations, it provides a comforting resource for children to navigate their feelings and experiences. The book also serves as a valuable tool for foster carers and social workers, offering a way to open up conversations and provide reassurance to the children in their care.
Where’s Ray?
Follow Ray’s journey visiting our local council partners in our newsletter.
Well done to everyone who correctly guessed that Ray was at the Spanish Barn in Torquay!
Each month Ray will be in a new location, spreading the word about the importance of fostering with your local council.
Where do you think Ray is this month? Let us know via our social media, or email in and get the chance to win a large Mood Bear.
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