As of June 2024, 657 children were in the care of Walsall Council’s children’s services. Of those, 98 – 15% – live with a “connected foster carer” which is how we refer to kinship foster carers. The council’s fostering service has 81 connected fostering households which are approved, have been assessed and have an allocated social worker.
Connected foster carers receive a fostering fee, weekly allowance and additional allowances for birthdays and holidays. If they live within the borough, they are exempt from council tax.
Mockingbird Family Model
We operate the Mockingbird Family Model, where connected foster carers can opt in to join one of six “constellations”. A constellation is where one experienced foster home – or hub – provides pretty much round-the-clock support to between six and 10 foster families, offering emergency and planned sleepovers, advice and training.
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