Fostering Medical Advisor

Job Purpose
The Fostering Medical Adviser provides independent, expert medical advice to the fostering service to support safe and informed decision-making about foster carers’ health. The role supports the fostering agency makes decisions and ensures compliance with statutory requirements, fostering regulations, and best practice standards.

This specific role has the following purpose:
• To analyse and evaluate the medical information of prospective and approved carers and provide the agency and the fostering panel clear advice on any health or lifestyle issues that may impact on their ability to safely care for children both now and in the future.
• To provide a written and comprehensive summary of the health and medical history of prospective carers.
• To liaise with GPs and other professionals or specialists to gather further information to provide clarity and specialist knowledge on certain aspects of a prospective carer’s health. This will require specific consent.
• To provide advice and guidance in respect of prospective and approved foster carer health matters to the agency.
• To provide advice and guidance to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM)
• To liaise with national organisations such as Coram/BAAF for advice and guidance as required for specialist information.

Key Responsibilities:
Medical Advice on Carers
• Provide written advice to the fostering service following a review of prospective and approved foster carers’ medical reports and health assessments forms.
• Advise on the significance of any medical conditions in relation to an individual’s ability to care for children safely.
• Clarify whether further specialist information, tests, or medical assessments are required.
• Contribute to annual foster carer reviews where there are significant health concerns.
• Clarifying complex medical conditions and their implications for parenting
• Recommending further medical assessments if necessary

Policy, Guidance and Compliance:
• Ensure advice is consistent with Children Act 1989, Fostering Services Regulations 2011, National Minimum Standards, and relevant statutory guidance.
• To be willing to contribute to occasional training or guidance for staff, panel members, and carers on health-related issues.

Person Specification:
Qualifications & Registration
• Fully registered medical practitioner with the GMC with a License to Practice.
• A background in General Practice or Community Child Health, and safeguarding experience/understanding.

Knowledge & Experience:
• Understanding of fostering and the needs of children in care.
• Knowledge of adult medical conditions.
• Experience of providing written and verbal medical advice to non-medical professionals.
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks and the impact of health on parenting capacity.

Skills & Abilities:
• Ability to analyse complex medical information and provide clear, concise, non-technical advice.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Reliability and a flexible approach to the job.
• Able to maintain complete confidentiality.
• Ability to use technology and work digitally.

Additional Information
• This is an advisory role; the Medical Adviser does not provide treatment or ongoing medical care for foster carers or children.
• The role is usually sessional, with time commitment dependent on the number of fostering assessments and panels.
• Medical reports will be in electronic format, as it is a digitalised service, therefore most communication will be via email or telephone.
• The role is home based
• The MA must ensure they meet their medical registration by attendance at training and keep training up to date and attend any courses advised by the agency in line with the medical advisor’s role
• The successful person must have own insurance cover
• To have good time management skills