Decision details

The purpose of the report is to outline the Department of Education (‘DfE’) grant received and detail how the funding will be applied to the Fostering Service in order to implement the Mockingbird programme. 

That the Executive Director People:

• Acknowledges and confirms receipt of the ££299,800 DfE grant; and

• Notes the contents of this report and approves the application of the grant funding received by the City Council towards implementing the Mockingbird Family Model as described in the report and that the grant is utilised as defined in this report.

1.    Supporting the recommendations in this report will allow the Fostering Service to utilise the grant as outlined in the report. The implementation of the Mockingbird Family model will support the City Council’s sufficiency agenda by promoting retention of carers and placement stability for young people.

2.    Implementation of the model will support the Local Authorities Sufficiency Strategy some key outcomes are identified as follows:-

·         Improved retention of foster carers and a reduction in resignations.

·         Improved stability of placement, less placement moves.

·         Reduction in residential placements.

·         As per the evidence from existing successful Mockingbird projects, we envisage savings from increased placement stability and reductions in admissions to residential care. These savings will be used to fund continued Mockingbird provision at the end of the 2 year investment.

No alternative models have been considered.  This was a stream of funding available to specifically as part of the DfE’s ‘Supporting Families: Investing in Practice’ initiative.  The Mockingbird Family Model as a key innovation identified by them for scale and spread.