Mockingbird constellation reviews

We spoke to different people who are part of a Mockingbird family model. They told us what it brings to their day-to-day life and the difference Mockingbird constellations really make to them and the children and young people they care for.

"Until you run a hub or you're in a constellation, you don't realise it is what you've been missing for a long time." Mockingbird hub carers, Lesley and Anth.

"The hub carer will come help you out at your home or take the child to their home if needed. This helps the carers and the child just get a little time to breathe if things are difficult." Mockingbird constellation foster carer, Viv.

"It's a bigger family that's what it is. It's more extended. It isn't Mockingbird, it is my bigger family, this is my family. It's like everybody's got their arms round in a circle and they've got the kids in the middle. They are protecting us and that's what they are doing and we're all growing up slowly and surely but with the help they're giving, it's so much more than most people think." Mockingbird constellation young member, aged 17.

"I know that he (her fostered young person) has somewhere to go he can go to at Lesley's, I know that he's secure, I know that he's safe.  If I've got something that I really need to talk to someone about then I ring Lesley, I honestly couldn't do without it." Mockingbird constellation foster carer, Catherine.

Social workers also speak highly of Mockingbird, with Fostering Team Manager Lisa saying: "The Mockingbird programme means I get to spend more time with children and young people and I absolutely love that. For example, because the families already have a support network through Mockingbird they can arrange things like sleepovers or childcare between themselves and Lesley as the hub carer completes all of the necessary paperwork.  This is something that previously would have taken a long time as we'd have to sort out background checks and assessments which was also frustrating to the young people but now, I can spend the time with young people and foster carers offering them the support they really need."