Fostering Panel Vice Chair

Fostering Panel - Vice Chair

How do we sum up Barnsley Council? 
In Barnsley we believe in working collaboratively with our families and are excited about becoming a signs of safety local authority. When you join us, you can come on this exciting journey with us and have access to a full suite of development and training opportunities. 
We are an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ Childrens Services and a double award-winning, high-performing council with a growing economy, a thriving town centre and some truly impressive outcomes in our communities. We have been awarded Council of the Year for 2023 by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) and The Municipal Journal (MJ). Our excellent Children's Services has been a key part of our win; we’re so proud of what we’ve achieved not just for the council but for our partners and Barnsley.

BMBC is committed to keeping children within their own family or community where this is possible and to maintaining family time between children living in foster families and their birth families where this is in the child’s best interests & it is safe to do so. 

Main duties:

• To deputise for the Panel Chair in their absence and carry out all the functions of the Chair’s role as and when required.
• To prepare for the Panel meetings, reading papers carefully, identifying key issues & alerting the professional adviser to the Panel, if necessary, that the cases are good enough for submission to the Panel.
• To participate in the Panel meetings contributing to clear and well evidenced recommendations, with reasons. When Chairing a meeting, the Vice Chair will facilitate the active participation of all Panel Members in contributing to the Panel’s consideration of cases in making clear & well evidenced recommendations with the reasons for these using the National Minimum Standards (NMS) or the Training Support & Development Standards (TSDS).
• To support the Panel Chair in the Panel Meetings as required.
• To support the minute taker in their role of writing accurate minutes.
• To provide written feedback at the end of each Panel about the quality of the reports that were presented to the Panel. This information will form part of the Panel minutes.
• To ensure those attending Panel are treated with respect and courtesy.
• To exercise and promote anti oppressive practice at all times.
• To attend and participate in the Panel Members annual training and in any ad hoc training delivered at the end of short Panel Meetings.
• To participate in the annual appraisals.
• In the Chair’s absence, to be involved in the appointment and induction of new Panel Members and in any consideration about terminating the appointment of a Panel Member.

Experience and Knowledge
• Good understanding of the fostering process.
• Knowledge of the purpose and function of the Panel including the relevant legislation and regulatory framework
• A sound knowledge and understanding of safeguarding.
• Good knowledge of the complex, diverse needs of children in care and the skills and qualities required by foster carers.
Skills and Abilities:
• To Chair a complex meeting effectively.
• Good listening and communications skills
• The ability to read, process and analyse 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 the Panel, and the confidence to articulate this at Panel.
• The ability to use personal and/or professional knowledge to contribute to discussions
• The ability to engage all Panel Members constructively and make decisions on Panel recommendations in a balanced and informed manner.,
• The ability to work co-operatively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

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.

For more information or to discuss this opportunity please contact Joanne McIntyre JoanneMcIntyre@barnsley.gov.uk or Anne Marie Banks AnneMarieBanks@barnsley.gov.uk