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The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).


Contact Details: jane.brommage@southglos.gov.uk and Janice.long@southglos.gov.uk

Foster Carers supporting the group: Marie Judge and Rachel Rushent

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).


Contact Details: jane.brommage@southglos.gov.uk and Janice.long@southglos.gov.uk

Foster Carers supporting the group: Marie Judge and Rachel Rushent

In 2021, South Gloucestershire Council was successful in its bid to join the innovative Fostering Network’s Mockingbird programme.

We are excited to be developing and delivering this programme and would like to give you a more detailed overview of the Mockingbird South Gloucestershire Pilot Project and how it will work in practice. We hope to launch the pilot project in Winter 2022 and are now at the point of looking to recruit to the roles within this first pilot structure.

During this face to face information session we will 

• tell you more about the Mockingbird model
• share information on how it has worked nationwide and the benefits it has bought for foster carers, children, young people, and families involved 
• talk through the Home Hub Carer role and the ‘constellation’ structure

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

This support group will be led by Mike Ollive.

The Purpose for the support groups

We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

Please note that this support group will be taking place at Badminton Road Council Offices. There will be security on the door to let you in from 18:45. This will be the first face to face gathering to have taken place for this group.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

In 2021, South Gloucestershire Council was successful in its bid to join the innovative Fostering Network’s Mockingbird programme.

We are excited to be developing and delivering this programme and would like to give you a more detailed overview of the Mockingbird South Gloucestershire Pilot Project and how it will work in practice. We hope to launch the pilot project in Winter 2022 and are now at the point of looking to recruit to the roles within this first pilot structure.

During this virtual information session we will 

• tell you more about the Mockingbird model
• share information on how it has worked nationwide and the benefits it has bought for foster carers, children, young people, and families involved 
• talk through the Home Hub Carer role and the ‘constellation’ structure

During the engagement event, we will cover: 

• Key updates from the Fostering Service  
• Consultation: How we record about young people 
• Introduce Avon and Somerset Police’s new initiative – Philomena Protocol

This support group will be led by Mike Ollive.

The Purpose for the support groups

We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

Please note that this support group will be taking place at Badminton Road Council Offices. There will be security on the door to let you in from 18:45. This will be the first face to face gathering to have taken place for this group.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

Join us for this new course exploring the experiences of care experienced people. The aim of this session is to help adults understand and connect with the needs and experiences of children and young people in care, leaving care and beyond. This is a superb opportunity for practitioners to learn from those with experience of being in care to support the development of their skills and practice. 

The session will be led by Kathy who will be supported by Anna. Kathy and her family were involved in social services for the duration of her childhood. As an adolescent, Kathy was accommodated by the local authority. Kathy’s story is both inspirational and instructive for social care professionals. This session will include:

 Personal narrative and how the stories we are told and tell about ourselves and others impact on our reality and life chances.

Education not necessarily academic, as a route out of a challenging start.

Challenging the damaged goods myth (individual and system based).

Normalising difficult emotions routed in trauma. Building confidence in emotional tolerance and therefore self- esteem

By booking onto this course you are giving permission for your contact details to be passed onto the trainer.