Adoption Panel Chair

This is NOT a North Somerset Council vacancy, please contact Adoption West for further details.

Adoption West is looking to appoint an Independent Chair to its Adoption Panel due to the retirement of one of its three Chairs at the end of March 2026. Adoption West is a regional adoption agency covering six local authorities in the South West. We are looking for a Chair who has a sound understanding and experience of the adoption process, the skills to chair an Adoption Panel and who can contribute to the overall performance of the Adoption Service.

Adoption West have three panel Chairs, with each Chair usually chairing 20 panels a year. Our panels have been run virtually since April 2020 with a very occasional face to face panel held if needed. We also hold face to face training days twice a year for all panel members.

The fee paid to the Chair is currently £571 per Adoption Panel. The fee includes preparation for and chairing the Panel meeting, quality checking the minutes of the Panel, involvement in Panel members' annual appraisals and contribution toward the 6 monthly reports as well as online attendance at meetings with the Adoption Advisers or Agency

Decision Makers (currently four times a year and twice a year respectively). An additional fee will be paid for contribution towards any Panel training events and attendance at any SWAC (South West Adoption Consortium) meetings.

Please read the Role and Person Specification for more info about the role. Job description and person specification

For an informal discussion about this role please contact:

Please contact Alison Hall, Service Manager, email if you would like an informal discussion about the role.

Additional Information:

• This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and will require an Enhanced DBS check before appointment can be confirmed.
• Confidentiality: Employees are expected to maintain the required level of confidentiality at all times in relation to their work.

Adoption West Behaviour Principles and Values:

All candidates applying for Adoption West roles are assessed against the Behaviour PrinciplesandValues during the interviewing process.

To apply please use the following link:Adoption Panel Chair