Adoption Panel Advisor

Job Title: Adoption Panel Advisor
Starting Salary: £53,806 progressing to £59,497 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37.0
Location: Countywide
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

The Adoption Panel is based within the Panel Office and Kinship Care Service. The post has flexible working arrangements. The Panel Advisor is required to be in Rainbow house, St. Albans when face to face Adoption Panel is held every other Monday but can then work flexibly to read panel papers and attend to the quality assurance role.

Adoption panels hear presentations for approval of new adopters, matching children to approved adopters , adoption in the best interests of a child and adoption disruptions.

The role is independent from the wider specialist service but requires close liaison with the adoption service.

About the role

The role of the Panel Adviser is to provide professional advice to the Adoption Panels. Ensure that the arrangements for panel are coordinated and run smoothly on the day and that all follow up actions and reports are completed in a timely manner, working closely with the Panel Office to ensure the panel is quorate.

The post holder offers support and advice to the Agency Decision Maker and ensures that the Agency Decision Maker can make timely decisions on behalf of the Local Authority.

Panel Adviser is required to read all panel papers, making notes of good practice and areas of concern. Quality assurance is a key role for the Panel Adviser.

The post holder will also need to ensure that appropriately experienced panel members are recruited, inducted, receive training and have annual appraisals.

About you

Essential:

• A recognised social work qualification, substantial 3 years post qualifying experience with management experience in either Adoption or Fostering.
• A comprehensive knowledge of childcare legislation, Regulations, guidance and minimum standards, particularly relating to adoption.
• To have professional credibility and leadership skills to inspire innovative practice
• Registration with SW England and an enhanced DBS.
• Ability to work in partnership and effectively with colleagues, panel members and other professionals.
• Ability to produce well written reports for panel management and contribute to the Adoption Annual Report.

Desirable:

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent knowledge of social care procedures and working practices
• Able to work independently to ensure that Hertfordshire adoption panel meets its requirements.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills. Able to respond flexibly to the demands of the post, prioritise and meet deadlines.
• To have a good understanding of inclusion and diversity and ensure this is reflected in all work.

This is an exciting opportunity which does not present often as the role is unique.

It allows the opportunity to develop and provide consultation, mentor and develop panel members.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC13 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Chris Cooper (chris.cooper@hertfordshire.gov.uk)

Interview Date: TBC

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.