SCC Improves Foster Fees to Recruit Carers in New Support Programme

Published on: 8 May, 2019
Updated on: 9 May, 2019

Cllr Mary Lewis, cabinet member for schools and learning, Surrey County Council. Photo – Surrey County Council.

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

In a bid to improve life for foster-carers and how children in care can be supported, Surrey County Council has adopted the “Mockingbird” model.

There are now about 26 local authorities and independent agencies around the country using this peer-support programme.

SCC hopes to recruit about 200 new foster-carers to provide more homes for looked-after children in the county and rely less on other agencies out of the area.

The cabinet approved a move to increase financial support for Surrey’s foster-carers at a meeting on Tuesday and Cllr Mary Lewis, lead member for children, said another way they are trying to improve their service is by using and promoting the Mockingbird model to provide support for new and present carers.

Cllr Lewis said: “It’s backed up by a peer-to-peer support method for foster-carers whereby they work in a small community of carers in one area who all support each other.”

Adapted by The Fostering Network, the Mockingbird model is where one foster home acts as a hub for other carers, offering planned and emergency sleepovers and short breaks as well as advice, training and support. The foster-carers providing the hub have about six to 10 other foster carers in their community.

It’s based on an idea originally developed by The Mockingbird Society in America in 2004 and allows the hub of carers to build links with other families and resources to help the children they are caring for.

The aim of the programme is to improve placement stability for each child and the fostering family and help them build stronger relationships.

Lily Stevens, Mockingbird programme manager for The Fostering Network, said: “We are delighted with the impact the programme has made to the fostering services, foster-carers and children and young people involved.

“A significant benefit is that it has supported foster-carers and the young people they look after in building stronger relationships, resulting in fewer moves between foster families for children and young people in the Mockingbird programme than their peers outside the programme.

“This increased stability enables children and young people to flourish.”

Foster Care Fortnight, The Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering, runs from May 13 to 26.

This year’s theme is #changeafuture and looking at how fostering can not only change the future of the child in care, but the foster family as well.

To find out more about being a foster-carer in Surrey visit https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/fostering