Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Independent Panel Chair |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Regulated Services |
Service |
Fostering |
Business unit |
Children's Services |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Service Manager - Regulated Services |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Head of Service - Regulated Services |
Salary grade |
N/A |
JE ref |
N/A |
1. Key purpose of job
- To independently chair the Fostering panel in accordance with current legislation guidance and departmental policies and procedures.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- To make recommendations to the Agency decision maker with regard to the suitability of individuals to be approved or continue to be approved as Foster carers for Torbay.
- Effective and efficient chairing of the Fostering panel to best practice standards.
- To have a clear and full set of minutes which accurately reflects the meeting, its recommendations and reasons.
- To ensure the best outcomes and highest standards are achieved for Torbay Fostering Service.
- The provision of expert consultancy where appropriate and advice in the areas of fostering.
- To contribute to the quality assurance of planning and assessments presented to the panel.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- To chair panel meetings, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the panel operates in accordance with regulations and the policies and procedures of Torbay Council.
- To prepare for panel meetings, reading panel papers fully and identify key issues and alerting the professional advisor if the case is not adequate for presentation at panel.
- To facilitate the active participation of panel members in contributing to panels considerations and recommendations.
- To address diversity issues and promote anti discriminatory practice at all times.
- To ensure that clear and accurate minutes are produced which reflect the meeting, its recommendations and any advice given in addition to any reservations of panel members.
- To carry out a quality assurance function through the challenge of poor practice and work and to report back to managers.
- To liaise with the Agency Decision maker as required.
- To ensure, along with the agency adviser that Senior managers are kept up to date with issues of concern in relation to both individual matters and to more general matters.
- To be involved in the appointment and appraisal of members of the central list.
- To assist in the preparation of and attend specific training for panel members at least one day per year.
- To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers minutes and panel discussions.
- To ensure up to date personal knowledge of practice legislation and guidance relevant to the role.
- To be involved in:
- deciding whether a case is adequate for submission to panel;
- deciding on the attendance of observers at panel;
- deciding on the participation of a panel member who declares an interest in a case;
- deciding when an additional panel may be necessary;
- the preparation of an annual report on the panel’s work.
- The above outlines the duties required for the time being but this is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be varied from time to time which does not change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility entailed.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- The panel chair has responsibility for the appraisal of other panel members on the central list at least annually.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working environment and conditions.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External
- Agencies working with children in care, foster carers and independent agencies.
- Internal
- All professional working with children in care, and fostering workers.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- 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.
- This post is based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- 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 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.
- 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 (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & 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.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is 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.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
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 Chair |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Regulated Services |
Service |
Fostering |
Business unit |
Children's Services |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Experience either professionally or personally or both of the placement of children in foster families and of children being cared for away from their birth families.
- The capacity to relate to carers and care staff and professional staff at all levels.
- Ability to challenge poor practice effectively.
- The ability to effectively chair complex meetings and to manage contributions by all participants ensuring clear outcomes.
- Problem solving and analytical abilities.
- Self motivation, personal confidence, leadership and negotiation skills.
- The ability to make independent judgements that take into account the views of others but are not unduly influenced by these.
- The ability to work to prescribed timeframes.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Ability to lead project or development work.
- Previous experience of chairing Fostering panels.
- Experience of contributing or leading on training.
- Experience of staff supervision or appraisal.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- An understanding of child development and the effects of trauma, significant harm, loss and separation on children.
- An understanding of all relevant child care legislation and statutory guidance.
- An understanding of the national minimum standards for regulated provisions (adoption, fostering, residential care).
- IT literate.
- Ability to demonstrate independence from LA case management.
Desirable knowledge
- Human Rights legislation, Freedom of Information Act, Education Act 2002, Licensing Act 2003.
- South West Peninsular child protection procedures.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- The authority and competence to chair a panel, ensuring that business is covered and that the panel operates in accordance with the regulations and the policies and procedures of Torbay Council.
- Experience of effectively chairing complex multi agency meetings.
- The ability to identify key issues and possible solutions and to communicate these clearly.
- Proven understanding of Child protection practice.
- Commitment to anti discriminatory practice.
- Ability to demonstrate a child centred commitment to valuing diversity and respect for other’s language , religion and culture.
- Proven ability to write reports and contribute to policy development.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of working within a fostering setting.
- Experience of attending fostering panels.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- There are no specific qualifications required for this post.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- To hold professional or academic qualification relevant to children. Their development and 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 (i.e. manual handling).
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.