Panel Member

**Panel Members to join our Central List**

Impact Foster Care is a new Independent Fostering Agency based in Bradford and the West Yorkshire area.

We are looking for passionate and suitably qualified members to join our Fostering Panel.

We seek a range of diverse individuals from all backgrounds to help us make important decisions about Fostering Recruitment, Assessments and Foster Carer Reviews. You will be part of a small Panel team within a family feel IFA; providing independent oversight on the suitability of applicants to foster, and reviews of existing Foster Carers.

We would be particularly keen to hear from those from minority backgrounds such as BAME and LGBTQ+ to ensure our Panel is diverse and conducts its business ethically and fairly.

You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively and efficiently read reports, draw out both strengths and challenges and formulate appropriate questions.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

**You will be required to undertake an enhance DBS check.**

**Working cycle: Bi monthly initially and then moving to monthly. It is envisaged panel will be held virtually.**

**Re-numeration: £180 per panel meeting to include reading and attendance.**

**Job description**

1. To read the circulated papers carefully before the meeting and to attend the meeting prepared to raise issues and to contribute to the panel discussion.

2. To take responsibility for participating in the making of a recommendation, on each case, drawing on both personal and professional knowledge and experience.

3. To attend meetings of the panel as specified in your agreement with the agency.

4. To be prepared to attend additional panels, if possible, if requested.

5. To participate, with other members, in advising on policy and procedural matters as required.

6. To address diversity issues and promote anti-discriminatory practice.

7. To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions.

8. To participate in induction and in training which will be at least one day per year.

9. To participate constructively in the annual review of your central list panel membership.

10. To adhere to the agency’s panel member code of conduct, if provided.

**Person specification**

**Experience and qualifications**
- Experience, either professionally or personally or both, of the placement of children in foster families or of children being cared for away from their birth family.
- A social work qualification will be necessary for certain panel members.

**Knowledge**
- An appreciation of the effect of separation and loss on children.
- Awareness of the richness of different kinds of families and their potential for meeting children’s needs.
- Some understanding of the purpose and function of the panel and of the agency which the panel is serving, or a willingness to learn.

**Abilities**
- Good listening and communication skills.
- The ability to read, process and analyze large amounts of complex and sometimes distressing information.
- The ability to make an assessment and to form a view, based on the written and verbal information presented to panel, and the confidence to articulate this at panel.
- The ability to use personal and/or professional knowledge and experience to contribute to discussions and decision-making in a balanced and informed manner.
- The ability to work co-operatively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- The ability to attend panel meetings, as required, arriving on time, and to attend at least one training day each year.

**Attitudes**
- A commitment to keeping children within their own family or community where this is possible and to maintaining contact between children living in foster families and their birth families where this appears to be in the child’s best interests.
- A commitment to fostering as a way of meeting a child’s needs where this appears to be in the child’s best interests.
- A commitment to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare in foster care.
- A valuing of diversity in relation to issues of ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, and sexuality.
- An understanding of, and a commitment to, the need for confidentiality.
- A willingness to increase knowledge and understanding of issues through reading, discussion, and training.
- A willingness to contribute constructively to the annual review of your central list panel membership and, as required, to that of other members and the Chair.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Zero hours contract

Pay: £180.00 per day

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bradford BD8 8BD