Are you child focused and passionate about influential and impactful adoption social work? If so, then becoming an Adoption Panel Chair could be the role for you to enable you to utilise your knowledge of child development and the impact of trauma to make a positive impact on children's lives.
Adoption South East is seeking to appoint an Independent Panel Chair for one of our three Adoption Panels. Adoption South East is the Regional Adoption Agency created by a strong and creative partnership between West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and Surrey Councils.
The Independent Chair will be employed by East Sussex County Council who host the central functions of the Adoption South East and they will be supported by a Panels Manager, Panel Adviser and a Panel Administrator.
The successful applicant will have current experience as the Chair of a Panel and have confidence in effectively chairing complex meetings. The Panel Chair will take responsibility for ensuring that business is conducted in accordance with the adoption regulations, standards, and guidance and in keeping with the regional agency's policies and procedures.
It is expected that the Panel Chair will ensure panel functions within a clear anti-discriminatory framework and be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge of current good practice initiatives. The Chair will need to maintain communication with the Panel Adviser to ensure clarity is reached on information submitted prior to the Panel meeting and be able to facilitate the active participation of all panel members in reaching robust recommendations.
We are looking for candidates who:
• Are confident in chairing complex Panel Meetings
• Are able to communicate well, both verbally and in writing
• Can identify key issues and possible solutions
• Can manage conflicting views held by panel members and help reach recommendations
• Has an understanding of the adoption process
• Has knowledge of the legislative framework for the work of the Panel