The Mockingbird Family Model: Fostering
Mockingbird has landed in Bolton!
Bolton Council is excited to be part of Mockingbird – a pioneering and innovative method of delivering foster care which is providing success stories on a global basis.
Councillors and fostering families flocked to celebrate the launch of the first Mockingbird “family constellation” at Bolton Council (2025).
What is the Mockingbird Family Model?
The Mockingbird Family Model (MFM) involves fostering households being part of a group(known as a ‘constellation’) with other foster carers who are described as satellite foster carers; they are supported by a central 'hub' home which provides resources and support to the satellite homes.
The hub home and the satellite homes are supported by Bolton Council fostering service, which provides a liaison worker to act as a link between the Mockingbird hub, and the fostering service.
Constellation Meet Ups
There can be up to 10 fostering households in a single Mockingbird constellation, with up to 18 looked-after children.
All carers within a constellation meets up once a month to give foster carers the opportunity to discuss specific topics and challenges they are facing.
These meet-ups and events are an invaluable source of support to both the foster carers, and the looked-after children, as each fostering family will have been chosen for what they can bring to the group, but also to be provided with the support they need.
How fostering families are supported 
The hub home provides support to the other families, through:
- regular social activities (usually at least once a month)
- planned and emergency sleepovers (the hub home must have at least two beds specifically for the use of children and young people in their group)
- short breaks (for special occasions)
- mentoring and support
- help to access support that is available in the wider community
- joint planning and training
The hub home also provides a neutral space for:
- shared decision-making meetings
- social worker visits
- sibling and birth family visits
What are the benefits of Mockingbird?
Mockingbird was introduced in the UK in 2015 and has shown to bring significant benefits to foster carers and, ultimately, the children and young people they care for. Because of its structure, Mockingbird helps ease the sense of isolation foster carers may feel. It offers immediate practical support, similar to that a non-fostering family might receive from friends and relatives.
The model is evidence-based, has been formally evaluated and shows improved outcomes for children, young people and foster carers.
What’s next for Mockingbird in Bolton?
As the results from the first Mockingbird constellation in Bolton are showing early successes, Bolton fostering service are looking to launch their second Mockingbird constellation in late 2025.
Find out more
You can contact the Mockingbird Liaison Officer by emailing mockingbird@bolton.gov.uk.
You can find more information on the Fostering Network website, which includes a short film about the Mockingbird project.