Fostering Panel Member

Contract Type: Casual

Salary: From £150 for a half-day panel, up to a maximum of £200 for a full day panel

Hours Per Week: Flexible

Base Location: Tameside Children’s Services and hybrid

Assessment Date: To be arranged

Make a Difference to the Lives of Children

We are seeking committed and enthusiastic individuals to join our Fostering Panel as Independent Panel Members. In this role, you will help ensure that children and young people are provided with safe, stable and nurturing foster homes through robust, child-centered, evidence-based decision-making.

About the Role

Panel members are required to scrutinise fostering and kinship assessments and reviews, contribute to panel discussion, identify areas of strength and risk, and make evidence-based recommendations regarding the approval and continued suitability of our foster carers.

Essential Requirements

A commitment to safeguarding children; ability to maintain confidentiality; strong communication skills; objective judgement; understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion; willingness to undertake training and develop in the role.

Who We Are Looking For

Applications are very much welcomed from across all communities from people with experience in fostering, social work, youth work, education, health, safeguarding, law, voluntary services, care experience, or other relevant fields. (Please note that social workers applying in this capacity must have a minimum of 3 years’ post-qualification experience, as required by the Fostering Services (England) Regulations, (2011)).

You should be highly organised, analytical, accustomed to reading complex information, able to formulate appropriate questions, challenge constructively and work collaboratively and inclusively.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a formal interview exploring areas of safeguarding, decision-making, analytical skills, professional curiosity and general understanding of fostering panels. Candidates may be asked to discuss a short fostering scenario. Successful applicants will be able to observe a panel meeting as part of their induction process.

Pre-Appointment Checks

Appointment is only made subject to meeting our requirements in accordance with safe recruitment practices which requires satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check, identity verification and other safeguarding checks.

Training, Support and Renumeration

All standard panel members will receive a panel induction, have access to training, an annual appraisal and ongoing support from the Panel Chair and Panel Adviser.

Payments claimed include all preparation, such as time spent reading and travelling. Payments are made following completion of panel, typically from £150 for a half-day panel, up to a maximum of £200 for a full day panel. A further £100 can be claimed for attendance at a panel training / development day. £100 is also made to observe panel as part of the induction process.

About Us

Message from Jill Colbert, Director of Children’s Services