The fostering team at Barking and Dagenham have won a prestigious Fostering Excellence Award, recognising their exceptional contributions to foster care.  

They were awarded The Fostering Network Award for a social work team at the ceremony in Birmingham on Tuesday, 17 October.  

The team were praised for their dedication over the past six years for setting up the Mockingbird programme – an extended family model which improves the stability of foster care. The team’s innovative programme saw the council retain more foster carers, as well as creating better stability for foster children.

The council’s Mockingbird programme was commended for giving children increased confidence as well as a better sense of belonging.

The success of the programme has led to the team now working with other boroughs to set up similar programmes.

The Fostering Network’s annual Fostering Excellence Awards are the UK’s most prestigious foster care awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in fostering and those who make exceptional contributions to foster care every day.    

The award ceremony took place at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and was hosted by broadcaster, TV presenter and inspirational speaker Ashley John Baptiste, who grew up in care himself. 

Cllr Jane Jones, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care and Disabilities, said: “In Barking and Dagenham, we have a proud history of making sure that our foster carers and children get the best support possible and key to this is our fantastic foster care team and amazing Foster Carers.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the Mockingbird programme’s success, and I’m thrilled that it’s now a template for other boroughs too.

“Key to its success has been its pioneering extended family approach which gives children much needed stability and foster carers a more manageable workload and greater support.”

Chief executive of The Fostering Network Sarah Thomas said: “This year marks my first Fostering Excellence Awards as CEO and I am over the moon to be able to celebrate the outstanding work of people within our fostering communities in this way.

“It’s been such a joy to read everyone’s stories and hear about exceptional people who go above and beyond to support others. It’s an honour to be able to celebrate these incredible achievements with our annual awards as well as highlight the vital role fostering is playing to those outside the fostering community.

“The fostering community is truly a special one and all our winners, and everyone else involved in fostering in the UK should be incredibly proud of their contributions to foster care.

“With more than 7,000 fostering families needed in the UK, it’s vital that we get more exceptional foster carers on board to provide stable homes for children and young people.”

For more information on fostering in Barking and Dagenham, please contact 020 8227 5988 or visit our website.