Adoption Panel Advisor

Job Title: Adoption Panel Advisor
Starting Salary: £53,806 per annum + £8,560 market enhanced payment progressing to £59,497 per annum + £8,607 market enhanced payment* please note this is a non-contractual payment subject to a 3 yearly review
Hours: 37.0
Location: Countywide
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Childrens Services

About the team

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time Adoption Panel Advisor for Hertfordshire. The Adoption Panel is based within the Panel Office and Kinship Care Service and provides panel services to the Hertfordshire Adoption Service. Hertfordshire’s Adoption Service is part of the Adopt East Regional Adoption Alliance and close liaison in required between all Local Authorities that make up Adopt East.

This is a flexible working role which requires attendance for all in person panels which are currently held a minimum of fortnightly at Rainbow House in St Albans. The ability to travel across the county including to the main Hertfordshire Offices in Stevenage and Apsley is required as well as occasional travel across the Eastern Region is also required. Homeworking is possible when not required to be in the office.

About the role

The Adoption Regulations require the adoption agency, which is Hertfordshire to appoint a senior member of staff as the Adoption Panel Advisor to:

• Assist the agency with the maintenance of the central list (list of persons who are considered suitable to be members of the adoption panel) and the constitution of adoption panels
• To be responsible for the induction and training persons in the central list
• To be responsible for the liaison between the agency and the adoption panel, monitoring the performance of persons in the central list and members of the adoption panel and the administration of the adoption panels; and
• To give advice to an adoption panel as the panel may request in relation to any case or generally.

In addition the Adoption Panel Advisor will be responsible for supporting the Agency Decision Making, who is a senior person in Hertfordshire with the responsibility to make a Best Interest Decision about whether a child should be placed for adoption.

The role of the Adoption Panel Adviser is to provide professional advice to the Adoption Panels and the ADM in respect of their Best Interest Decision. 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.

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

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.

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

In accordance with the Adoption Regulations the Adoption Panel Advisor must be a qualified social worker with at least 5 years of relent post qualifying experience and have relevant management experience.

About you

Essential:

• A recognised social work qualification,
• Registration with SW England
• 5 years post qualifying experience with relevant management experience in Adoption
• 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
• 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.
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Regular Access to a vehicle

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’s central list. It also allows an opportunity to improve practice across adoption in Hertfordshire as well as influence adoption practice across Adopt East.

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

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.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

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.