More help for foster carers

'MOCKINGBIRD' PROGRAMME IS EXTENDED BY COUNCIL

- By KATIE TIMMS

PLYMOUTH foster carers are set to receive more support as the Mockingbird programme, which provides family-style support for fostering families, has been extended to help more local households.

Mockingbird uses an extended family model in the form of ‘constellations} consisting of a central hub home which supports several satellite homes of other foster carers.

The hub home carers are specially recruited for their experience and will help the satellite carers with peer support, social activities and sleepovers for children and young people, helping to give carers a break.

Foster for Plymouth, Plymouth City Council’s fostering service, already has two constellations of carers and has now launched a third. The new constellation will support eight fostering families who are part of Foster for Plymouth but live outside the city, in Cornwall.