We are St Helens Borough Council Located in the heart of the Northwest close to Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire, St Helens is a modernising Council which is passionate and ambitious for the children and families we support, our communities and our workforce. As part of our transformation journey, we continue to build on our progress and put children firmly at the centre of our care. We can only do this because of our highly valued, skilled, and supported workforce. Making a Difference as Independent Chair of the Fostering Panel St Helens Children & Young People Services has recently increased the number of fostering panels from monthly to fortnightly. We are therefore seeking to recruit a second independent Fostering Panel Chair, to work alongside our existing Fostering Panel Chair. We are looking to appoint a Fostering Panel Chair to act as an alternate panel chair and to be involved in the recruitment and development of Fostering Central List members. In order to undertake this role you will need to; Have knowledge of fostering practice and processes, and an understanding of the purpose and function of a Fostering Panel The necessary skills required to Chair a complex multi-agency meeting The ability to review individual panel members performance Experience, professionally or personally, of the placement of children with foster families There will be approximately 24 panels per year (shared with the existing chair) – payment will be £500 per panel meeting including reading time. Interested to Find Out More? You can review our full job description details, and person specification information here. You can also contact us first for a chat before applying, please contact Katharine Radclyffe Service Lead Adoption and Fostering, on 01744 671803. These posts are subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Equality & Diversity St Helens Borough Council respects and values the individuality that every employee brings. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to transform our organisation. Further information about Equality & Diversity at St Helens Borough Council can be found here https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/equality St Helens Borough Council is a Disability Confident Leader. Disability Confident Leaders lead the way in helping to take action that changes attitudes, behaviours, and cultures for the better. NOLAN Principles of Conduct in Public Life All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.