Independent Fostering Panel Chair

Frequency – Panel meetings are fortnightly, in person, on a Wednesday, 9-2pm.

Commitment – The chair is expected to attend at least 80% of meetings annually including panel training and quarterly business meetings, appraisals and other relevant meetings.

North Somerset Council is looking to recruit an Independent Fostering Panel Chair for their foster panel in Weston Super Mare. The fostering panel provides independent oversight of the recruitment, assessment and review of foster carers and connected person/kinship carers; you will draw on your personal and professional knowledge and experience and make reasoned recommendations on applicants/carers suitability to foster.

The role of Panel Chair is crucial to our success in improving outcomes for our children in care. You will need to have experience and confidence in effectively chairing complex meetings, underpinned by a sound understanding of Fostering Panel processes and the legislative landscape within which panel operates, including safeguarding procedures.

You will be responsible for ensuring our Fostering Panel is an inclusive, anti-discriminatory forum which promotes sound and responsible recommendations with children at its heart. You will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the legislative framework and National Minimum Standards for Fostering and current best practice initiatives. As Panel Chair you will have excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, experience of managing complex dynamics within meetings and be able to put prospective and approved foster carers at ease.

Your role will extend to supporting the development of our Fostering Service, through strong links to the Panel Advisor, Fostering Management Team and Agency Decision Maker. 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.

In addition to chairing the Fostering Panel, there will be Business meetings, Practice meetings, panel appraisals and training events which need your input over the year. Contracts are reviewed annually as part of the appraisal process.

Panel are currently held face to face, at the Town Hall, in Weston Super Mare. However, we convene some panels via Microsoft Teams as the service requires. Ability to attend both and have flexibility for change is essential.

North Somerset Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks. Successful applicants will be required to undertake relevant DBS checks.

Due to the requirement for panel to be independent from the Local Authority we regret that we cannot accept applications from current or previous North Somerset Foster Carers.

For an informal chat please contact Harriet Johnstone, Panel Advisor - harriet.johnstone@n-somerset.gov.uk

If you wish to apply, please read the Job Description and person specification and send a CV and covering letter stating how you meet the job description and person specification to – harriet.johnstone@n-somerset.gov.uk

Closing date for application is 30th August 2025, with interviews planned for mid September.