Panel Chair

PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

FOSTERING PANEL CHAIR VACANCY

Independent Panel Chair

You will have experience of the Fostering Sector either professionally or personally and ideally experience as a panel chair/ vice chair, however this is not essential. We are specifically looking to recruit an individual to this key role who has experience and skills in chairing and participating in complex meetings where a wide variety of views maybe expressed.
As an able communicator you will support the development of the Fostering Service through strong links to the Panel Advisor, Fostering Management Team and the Agency Decision Maker. Good listening and communication skills are essential along with the ability to make an assessment based on the written and verbal information presented to the panel.

The expectation is that you will provide leadership to the panel by being well prepared, reading panel papers carefully identifying key issues and alerting the Panel Advisor if necessary to any concerns. The successful applicant also needs to be able to provide focus, manage time and create a safe space to consider complex issues and record clear decision making in the presence of panel members.

You will be committed to continuous development and learning and be able to promote best practice and assist in the recruitment appointment and appraisal of panel members as required.

The Panel Chair is paid an all-inclusive sum per Panel and further remuneration, to cover all additional duties, such as appraisals of Panel members.

JOB DESCRIPTION

As a member of Plymouth City Council Fostering Panel, you will be required to:

1. Chair panel meetings, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that, with the advice of the legal adviser and agency adviser, the panel operates in accordance with Regulations and Plymouth City Council’s policies and procedures

2. Regularly attend the Fostering Panel (approximately 24 a year) and be available
to chair extra panels if required.

3. Prepare for panel meetings, reading panel papers carefully, identifying key issues and alerting the agency adviser if necessary to ensure, as far as possible, that the case papers are adequate for submission to panel.

4. Facilitate the active participation of all panel members in contributing to the panel’s consideration of cases and to the making of clear and well-evidenced recommendations with the reasons for these.

5. Ensure that all those who attend panel are treated with respect and courtesy.

6. Address diversity issues and to promote anti-discriminatory practice at all times.

7. Ensure that clear and accurate minutes are written, which record any serious reservations which panel members may have, and to be involved in checking and agreeing draft minutes with other panel members before they are sent to the decision maker.

8. Liaise with the agency decision maker and with other senior managers as required, and with the agency adviser, to ensure that they are aware of issues of concern, in relation both to individual cases and to more general matters.

9. Review annually, with the agency adviser, the performance of panel members.

10. Be involved in the appointment and induction of new panel members and in any consideration about terminating the appointment of a panel member.

11. Assist in developing, promoting and monitoring policies and procedures and high standards of work in the fostering services of Plymouth City Council.

12. Assist in planning training for panel members and to participate in this at least one day per year.

13. Safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions, and adhere to the panel policy on confidentiality.

14. Implement Plymouth City Council’s policy on Equal Opportunities and address diversity issues and promote anti-discriminatory practice at all times.

15. Be involved in:

• deciding on the attendance of observers at panel;
• deciding on the participation of a panel member who declares an interest in a case;
• the preparation of a six monthly report on the panel’s work.
• the development of the fostering service as appropriate.
 

For more information about this vacancy and to apply please visit the jobs page on our site.