About the job

Key information

Independent Panel Vice Chair for Fostering (Officeholder position).

Hours
1 panel per month or minimum of 6 a year.
Additional panels will be considered in line with service need.
Expenses Payments (inclusive of preparation work.)
Current fostering Panel Vice Chair payments are currently under review

FEES AND EXPENSES

8.1 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 permit the local authority to pay a reasonable fee to members of a Fostering Panel. The fee SC will pay to the Panel Vice Chair during the period of this agreement will be as follows:

£175.00 per Panel to include time spent reading the papers and preparing for Panel.

8.2 SC will reimburse travel and car parking expenses for attending Panel meetings. The travel expense rate is 45p per mile. This will be limited to 120 miles per day or £54 per day for all other travel arrangements.

8.3 Fees and expenses will be paid via Payroll in accordance with HMRC regulations and tax and national insurance deducted at source where appropriate. Payroll will be notified monthly by the Foster Panel Administrator of the payments to be made to the Panel Vice Chair based on the Panels undertaken

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

Somerset Council are seeking to appoint a Vice Panel Chair to the Somerset Foster Care Panel. We are looking for a competent and accomplished professional who has substantial expertise in chairing complex meetings. The Officeholder position requires an individual with the skills and aptitude to effectively manage the Fostering Panel when stepping in for the Panel Chair.

You will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge of the legislative framework, national minimum standards for fostering and regulations, as well as an understanding of good practice initiatives. You will have a sound understanding of childcare planning and child development.

You will have the skills to ensure that the Panel functions within a clear anti-discriminatory framework. The suitable candidate must have excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and be able to put prospective and approved foster carers at ease whilst promoting sound and responsible decision-making.

You will be well prepared, able to provide focus, and manage time to create a safe space to consider complex issues and record clear decision making in the presence of all key stakeholders.

You will be committed to continuous development and learning and be able to promote best practice. Somerset Council are committed to ensuring that all applicants have fair and equitable access to our job/volunteering opportunities and appointments are made on merit. A number of groups are currently under-represented within our workforce and so we are working hard to increase the diversity of our workforce so that it better reflects the economically active profile of the local community.

Supporting documents and information

For enquiries, please contact Lisa Walker on the email address below.

If you wish to apply, please send a CV and statement as to how you meet the job description and person specification to – LMWalker@somerset.gov.uk.

Job description

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