Independent Panel Chair

Full Job Description

Job Role: Independent Panel Chair

Contract: Freelance

Location: NFA Scotland

Fee:  Full day - £416, Half day - £208

The National Fostering Group are looking to recruit an Independent Panel Chairperson member who would be required to attend meetings at National Fostering Agency in Scotland

The Independent Fostering panel provides independent oversight of the recruitment, assessment and review of foster carers and makes reasoned decisions on their suitability to foster.

Applicants should have experience either professionally, personally or both of the placement of children in adoptive or foster families or of children being cared for away from their birth family.

Responsibilities:

• Reading of all panel papers prior to attending panel
• Travel to and from Panel
• Attendance at panel on agreed day
• Chairing the Panel
• QA of Panel minutes
• Undertaking Panel Training (a minimum of 1 day per annum)
• Attendance at Quarterly Panel meetings
• Annual appraisals
• Contribution to Annual Panel report　

We are looking to recruit the following people: 　

• Registered social workers, preferably with knowledge of fostering
• Someone with a health background
• Someone with current experience of fostering children.
• Someone from a police or legal background.　

Good listening and communication skills are essential along with the ability to make an assessment based on the written and oral information presented to the panel in order to discuss and make decisions in a balanced and informed manner.

We are specifically looking to recruit individuals to this key role with experience and skills in attending complex meetings where a wide variety of views maybe expressed.　

Applicants will receive panel paperwork electronically so should have secure access to a laptop (or similar). However, a hard copy could be supplied should the applicant prefer this and is also in a position to collect panel paperwork from the office at the appointed time.

Panels are every third Tuesday and run 9.30 - 3.30 approx in Grangemouth Office

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks. Successful applicants will be required to undertake relevant DBS checks, the cost of which is funded by the agency.

Job ID: 270555