Job info	Job info details
Job title	Independent Panel Member (Fostering)
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Fostering Service
Business unit	Specialist Services
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Service Manager - Specialist Services
Accountable to (line manager)	Service Manager - Specialist Services
Salary grade	£180 full day rate, £90 half day rate
JE ref	SS182

1. Key purpose of job

• To act as an independent member of the Fostering Panel in accordance with current legislation, statutory guidance and departmental policies and procedures.
• To contribute independent judgement, challenge and quality assurance to panel recommendations about the approval, continued approval, review and termination of foster carers and adopters.
• To support robust, child-centred decision making that promotes the welfare, safety and best interests of children requiring foster care or adoption.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Panel recommendations to the Agency Decision Maker are informed by independent scrutiny, constructive challenge and balanced professional judgement.
• Decisions about the suitability of foster carers are supported by clear consideration of the evidence, relevant standards and the needs of children.
• Panel minutes accurately reflect the discussion, recommendations, reasons, advice and any reservations expressed by panel members.
• High standards of safeguarding, anti-discriminatory practice, confidentiality and quality assurance are maintained within the Fostering Panel process.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Regularly attend meetings of the Fostering Panel as specified in the agency agreement.
• Prepare for panel meetings by reading panel papers in full, identifying key issues and considering whether the information presented is complete, balanced and sufficient to support recommendations.
• Actively participate in panel discussion, contributing to the panel’s consideration of assessments, reviews, matches and recommendations.
• Promote anti-discriminatory practice, equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of panel work.
• Contribute to clear and accurate panel minutes that record the meeting, recommendations, reasons, advice and any reservations raised.
• Carry out a quality assurance function by challenging poor practice, identifying gaps in information and reporting relevant concerns to the Panel Chair.
• Attend required training for panel members, including at least one day of panel member training each year.
• Participate in appraisal and review arrangements for the panel member role.
• Safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers, minutes and panel discussions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant practice, legislation, statutory guidance and national minimum standards.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working environment and conditions.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical effort. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• None. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External: 

• Agencies working with children in care, foster carers and independent fostering agencies.

Internal: 

• All professionals working with children in care, fostering workers, panel members, Panel Chair, Agency Adviser and Agency Decision Maker.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of all cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether spent or unspent. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Independent Panel Member (Fostering)
Strategic team/Directorate	Children's Services
Service	Fostering Service
Business unit	Specialist Services

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Capacity to relate effectively to foster carers and professional staff at all levels.
• Ability to challenge poor practice effectively and constructively.
• Problem-solving and analytical ability, including the ability to identify key issues and possible solutions.
• Ability to make independent judgements that take account of the views of others without being unduly influenced by them.
• Ability to work to prescribed timeframes and prepare fully for panel meetings.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Self-motivation, personal confidence, leadership and negotiation skills.
• Previous experience of attending panels.
• Experience of working within a fostering or adoption setting. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Understanding of child development and the effects of trauma, significant harm, loss and separation on children.
• Understanding of key issues for individuals affected by foster care.
• Understanding of relevant childcare legislation, statutory guidance and national minimum standards for regulated provision, including adoption and fostering. 

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of looked after children processes.
• Knowledge of child protection procedures and safeguarding practice.
• IT literacy sufficient to access and review panel papers and information securely. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Experience, either professional or personal, of children being cared for away from their birth families.
• Experience of identifying key issues and communicating recommendations clearly.
• Proven commitment to anti-discriminatory practice, valuing diversity and respecting language, religion and culture.
• Ability to write clearly and contribute to policy or procedural development as required. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Experience of working within a fostering or adoption setting.
• Experience of attending fostering, adoption or other statutory panels. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• There are no specific qualifications required for this post.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Professional or academic qualification relevant to children, their development or care needs. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. 
• Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate independence from local authority case management.