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.