Celebrating 10 years of 'invaluable' foster carer peer support network in Leeds

The mockingbird hub model of fostering was first set up in Leeds in 2015 and involves linking foster families with an experienced foster carer – known as the ‘hub home carer’ – who provides much-needed guidance and support for both adults and children as they navigate their new lives together.

The model first originated in Seattle, USA and Leeds City Council was one of the early pioneers, now having the largest and most established network in the UK.

Michelle Raw, 53, of Whinmoor, has been a hub home carer for the past six years, having fostered children with husband Mark, 49, for 21 years.

She supports eight families - most of whom are ‘kinship carers,’ where relatives or close friends step in to care for children who are unable to remain living with their parents.

She said: “The mockingbird hub model is amazing – it acts just like an extended family.

“I help provide practical support as well as just having a cuppa and chat about the day with carers. Carers come to my house, we might do a bit of training, have a chat about life, they meet other carers and get to know each other and the children get to know each other and play together.

“It feels like we become part of their family and they become part of ours.”

As the hub home carer, Michelle provides support in a variety of ways – such as hosting coffee mornings, supporting with any appointments, holding activity days in school holidays and looking after children for overnight stays or weekends.

She added: “The hubs are vital for both carers and the children because everyone needs that connection and bit of help and time to recharge their batteries.

“It’s the most amazing model, it works really well.

“I work really closely with our supervising social worker from Foster 4 Leeds to support our families too. I speak to her three or four times a week and if I ever need help with anything, she’s there.”

Leeds currently has nine hubs across the city with a 10^th soon to launch.

All the families supported by the city’s hubs recently came together to celebrate the network’s landmark anniversary with a special event at Herd Farm Activity Centre, where they joined staff from the council’s fostering and kinship care teams and children enjoyed face-painting, a climbing wall, inflatables, ice creams, a barbecue and sporting fun.

The event also coincided with Foster Carer Fortnight (May 12-25) which this year has a theme of ‘The Power of Relationships’ – of which the mockingbird family model is a poignant example.

The model is one of many ways Foster 4 Leeds provides support to 400 fostering placements and 350 children living with kinship or connected carers across Leeds.

The service also offers high quality social work support, training and an extensive programme of enrichment activities and family fun days throughout the year.

As is the case nationally, however, Leeds has an ever-increasing need for more foster carers.

Currently, there are nearly 1,500 of the city’s children in care and Foster 4 Leeds continues to appeal for carers who can offer a stable, safe and loving home for children in Leeds.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, who attended the anniversary event at Herd Farm, said: “We’re absolutely committed to supporting all our carers and it’s great to see and hear how valuable these mockingbird hubs have been for our families over the past ten years.

“I’d like to thank all who have contributed to their success – with particular thanks, once again, to our amazing foster and kinship carers who play such a vital role in transforming the lives of our children looked after.

“Celebrating our mockingbird hubs during Foster Carer Fortnight and its theme of relationships feels particularly timely. Relationships are the golden thread that run through every fostering story - but we urgently need more foster carers who can invest in these relationships and offer a stable, home environment to allow children to grow and thrive.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about foster caring in Leeds can visit the https://foster4.leeds.gov.uk/ website.

ENDS

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Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

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