Foster carers are in a unique financial situation. When trying to secure a mortgage, this can often lead to their income being questioned and result in difficulties. The Mortgage Brain, however, has addressed this issue and thanks to the in-depth fostering knowledge of their specialist advisers, they have helped hundreds of foster carers with their mortgage over the years. Read here about their service and why the team is so keen to help foster carers finance their dream home.

Every Mockingbird constellation is different, but the first task for the hub home carer and liaison worker is to begin building links and relationships in their constellation.  This has become more challenging under lockdown restrictions, but Portsmouth found a way to spark enthusiasm.

Last month Gavin Williamson, secretary of state for education, announced an independent review of children’s social care in England. We welcome this review and over the coming months coIleagues from The Fostering Network will explore key issues that the review must consider. First up is our chief executive Kevin Williams.

To mark LGBT+ History Month Charlotte Andrew, engagement manager at Three Circles Fostering, shares her thoughts on LGBTQ+ foster carers and young people in care. She tells us what services can do to reach out to prospective LGBTQ+ carers, how they can support them in their role and what more needs to be done for care experienced LGBTQ+ children.

Charlotte co-founded lgbtyouthincare.com and is a trustee on the board of directors for Proud 2 b Parents. An adopter and previously a foster carer, she works nationwide with community groups to support, raise awareness and advise on best practice supporting LGBTQ+ foster carers, adopters and youth in care.

Kelly exceeded her own beliefs when she left care and was accepted to study Sociology at the University of Sunderland. Since then, she’s gone on to do a master’s degree in Global Human Resource Management at Newcastle University and is now working at the Care Leaver Covenant, supporting care experienced students in further education.

Selina is a social worker and care experienced. She came into care when she was nine years old and lived with her foster family until she turned 18. Selina is convinced that the positive family experience as a foster child enabled her to live the happy life she leads now. She knows how important it is both for carers and the ones cared for to stay in touch if it is in the child’s best interest and argues for this to be more encouraged.

Mockingbird constellations are led by a hub home carer and liaison worker who support six to ten satellite families to form a supportive community based on an extended family model – the first constellations in the UK launched in late 2015. We are marking this five years anniversary by sharing the experiences – this time from Mockingbird at the Royal Borough of Greenwich – of foster carers, young people and staff in services to hear how it feels to be part of the programme.

The Mockingbird hub home carer role is unique. Michelle and her husband Paul have, over two and a half years, built a supportive community ‘constellation’ of ‘satellite’ fostering families, with the full support of their fostering service. We spoke to them to learn more about their constellation and how they have found ways to support each other and celebrate together even during lockdown.

In February LGBT+ History Month is celebrated in the UK. We are joining in by highlighting the vital contribution the LGBTQ+ community makes to foster care and what more can be done to ensure that both LGBTQ+ foster carers and young people have the best possible experience of care.

For the first blog of this series, we spoke to four LGBTQ+ foster carers about their role, caring for LGBTQ+ children and what foster carers can do to ensure that every child feels supported on their journey.