Could you be a Mockingbird Hub Home Carer?


We are looking for an experienced foster carer to support other fostering families as a Home Hub Carer within Bury Council’s existing Mockingbird programme.

The Mockingbird programme is a pro-active approach to foster care that is built around the concept of an extended family-style support network. It empowers families to support each other and overcome problems before they escalate, offering children a more positive experience of foster care.


The programme uses the concept of a constellation, where six to ten satellite families live in close proximity to a dedicated hub home which provides peer support, planned and emergency sleepovers and regular social activities. The constellation also builds links with other adults important to children’s care plans and to resources in the wider community that can provide them with enhanced opportunities to learn, develop and succeed.


The Mockingbird programme is run by The Fostering Network, the UK’s leading fostering charity, in conjunction with Bury Council and other fostering services across the UK. The programme has been running since 2015 in England and has the potential to improve placement stability, safety and permanency for children and young people in care and to improve support for, and retention of, foster carers. This is an exciting opportunity for a foster carer to progress their career caring and supporting cared for children.


To find out about the national programme visit Mockingbird Programme | The Fostering Network


To find out about Bury fostering team and the support we offer our foster carers visit Foster with Bury - Foster with Bury




The Mockingbird Hub Home Carer Role


Hub home carers are crucial to the success of the Mockingbird programme and each individual constellation. Hub home carers act as the glue that unites the satellite families in each constellation together into a community. It is a full-time job for experienced foster carers who have completed their preparation training, post approval induction period and the TSDs (Training Support and Development Standards).


As a hub home carer, you will:

Have at least two years fostering experience.

Have at least one spare bedroom (with capacity for a trundle bed and a third emergency bed if needed) for planned and emergency sleepovers, for children and young people aged 0-18 years living in your constellation.

Have the physical space in your home to host monthly meetings with light catering, for all satellite carers in your constellation.

Plan and host a range of monthly social events for all the families in the constellation.

Support and mentor satellite families.

Host and support family time between siblings and birth families.

Attend, promote and coordinate training for carers in your constellation.


Hub home carers will be confident, energetic, resourceful and experienced in managing conflict. They should have excellent social skills, with a genuine motivation to partake in and develop a strong sense of community amongst foster carers, in partnership with the fostering service.


Hub home carers must be empathetic and willing to coach others. They will take on a leadership role and have strong support networks of their own.


Hub home carers will be paid annual allowance of £49,430.68 per annum plus additional benefits including 50% Council Tax discount, paid mileage, equipment provided and generous refer a friend scheme. We also have a dedicated Foster Care Hub for our fostering community, an established FCA (Foster Carer Association) and an extensive post approval training programme, with all training and support groups held locally in Bury.




For further information about the hub carer role, please email Fostering Team Manager, Lindsey Bishop l.bishop@bury.gov.uk

About Bury
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment may be subject to a satisfactory disclosure at the appropriate level under the Disclosure and Barring Service.
In line with safer recruitment, please ensure that your application/CV covers your full employment history and there is a reason noted for any gaps in employment. Successful candidates will be asked to provide relevant references for the past ten years and character references will not be accepted.

Please note we are unable to support with sponsorship at this time.

As a Corporate Parent, ensure that the work and services you deliver considers our care experienced young people, promotes their life chances empowers them to influence the policies, services, and decisions that affect them, champions their rights, and ensure they grow up in the best possible way


Next steps

For an informal chat regarding the role please contact Lindsey Bishop, Fostering Team Manager - l.bishop@bury.gov.uk

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Ready to apply?

Location

Knowsley Street, , Bury, BL9 0SW, United Kingdom

Job ID

11915

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