Foster Panel Independent Vice Chair    

Salary:  £450.00 per panel when acting as Chair, £100 when acting as Vice Chair

 1 – 2 panels per month – Permanent Position

We are looking to appoint an additional Vice Chair for our busy fostering panel. The Vice Chair will have the opportunity to Chair 3-4 panels a year and will be available to step in for the Chairperson during any holiday and sickness. The Foster Panel in Staffordshire covers both mainstream and connected foster care applications and is consequently a busy panel. Fostering panels run every Wednesday and last for up to 6 hours but can be longer or shorter dependent upon the panel business.

We would wish to appoint someone who has at least 2-3 years’ experience of sitting as a panel member, they need to be organised, have the ability to manage complex and at times challenging cases, whilst remaining approachable and balanced.

The candidate requires an in-depth level of knowledge of the fostering regulations and standards and the understanding of the needs for a wide variety of foster carers that can offer a rich selection of home environments for our children requiring foster placements

Staffordshire’s Vice Chairs support the wider fostering service with additional tasks such as considering support carer assessments and long-term matches that often sit outside of fostering panel.  

It is expected that successful applicants would then be asked to attend an interview.

For an informal discussion please contact Julia Challinor, Fostering Central Team Manager on 01785 895058

Knowledge

• An appreciation of the effect of separation and loss on children.
• An awareness of the richness of different kinds of families and their potential for meeting children’s needs.
• An understanding of the purpose and function of the panel and of the agency which the panel is serving.
• An understanding of the fostering process and practice and of the legislative framework for the work of the panel, or the capacity to develop this knowledge quickly.
• Abilities

   

   

   

• The authority and competence to chair a panel, ensuring that the business is covered and that the panel operates in accordance with regulations and the policies and procedures of the agency.
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills and the ability to communicate well and clearly both verbally and in writing.
• The ability to identify key issues and possible solutions and to communicate these clearly.
• The ability to facilitate the active participation of all panel members in contributing to the panel’s consideration of cases and recommendations.
• The ability to ensure that attendees at panel are enabled to contribute and respond to discussions.
• The ability to manage the expression of strongly held but possibly conflicting views by panel members and to help the panel to reach a recommendation which takes account of all these views.
• The ability to take up issues as required with the agency, liaising with the decision-maker and other senior managers.
• The ability, working with the professional adviser, to review each panel member’s performance both when required, and at least annually, ensuring that this is a helpful and constructive process for both the panel member and the panel as a whole.

This Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, we offer a guaranteed interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Enhanced DBS:

This position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.

To apply for this post click on the ‘Apply’ button below.

By clicking on the apply button you will be redirected to Staffordshire County Councils online application website. Please note, you are only able to view the Job Description and Person Specification on the WM Jobs  board NOT via Staffordshire County Council's online application site.  

To submit your application you will need to register an account on the website (NB this is a separate login to WM Jobs). 

We collect personal information from you when you register with us to make an application. Information we collect includes name, email address and other contact details. We will use this information to communicate with you generally and to assess your application.

By clicking on the Apply button and submitting your application form, you are giving your consent to the processing of your personal data in the ways described Here

If you experience any technical issues accessing or completing the application form please contact recruitment@staffordshire.gov.uk

Closing Date: Monday 20^th December 2021
Interview Date: Tuesday 11^th January 2022 

For more information about the role please contact: Julia Challinor

Please be aware, only application forms completed online will be accepted. We will not accept CV’s or Word application forms.

Benefits for working for us….

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits including  (non of these are applicable to this role so ideally this needs to be removed)

• An excellent local government pension scheme

• Generous holiday entitlement from 24 up to 33 days (plus 2 extra statutory days and bank holidays) depending on job role and length of service
• The option to buy up to an additional 2 weeks annual leave
• A range of flexible working options, depending on your job role, which includes agile working, flexible retirement
• Family Friendly Policies - maternity, adoption, paternity and parental leave
• Volunteering Scheme
• Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
• Access to health and wellbeing support (including Occupational Health, Physiotherapy and Counselling Services)
• Eye care vouchers
• Car lease scheme / cycle & car loan scheme / employee car share scheme
• Bus and rail travel discounts