Fostering Panel Member, Care Resources

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

We have a great opportunity for an Independent Panel member to join our Fostering Panel.

The Fostering Panel makes recommendations on who is suitable to care for vulnerable children. We hold two panels a month and the successful candidate will be placed on a rota along with other panel members.

What’s the role?

As an Independent Fostering Panel Member, you do not need experience of sitting on Fostering Panels as long as you have transferable skills, including the ability to respectfully challenge others when needed and to be child focused.

You will be required to read panel reports and be prepared to raise issues and to contribute to the panel discussions. You will participate in the making of recommendations on each case, drawing on your personal knowledge and experience. You will be required to participate with other panel members in advising on Fostering policy and procedural matters as required and to follow confidentiality requirements in relation to both paperwork and discussions.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Excellent training. The Lewisham Fostering Service provide Panel Members with induction training and relevant information regarding preparation for panel membership and supports them in their task; including updates on relevant legislation, agency policy and practice guidance.
• Supportive staff networks
• The opportunity to make a real difference to our local community.

What we’re looking for

The Fostering Service within Lewisham council is seeking a passionate and suitably experienced individual to join our central list of panel members.

We are keen to recruit an individual with lived experience of being placed outside of their birth family.

The ideal candidate will have an excellent standard of spoken and written English and be able to read complex reports and draw questions and conclusions from them effectively and efficiently.

Good listening and communication skills are essential for this role as is the ability to use personal and/or professional knowledge and experience to contribute to discussions and decision-making in a balanced and informed manner.

Location

All panels take place in person and are held at 45 Bromley Road, Catford, SE6 2UA.

Special conditions

• Care experienced individual
• If you feel ready for a change and are able to take on new challenges in a progressive organization, we want to hear from you.

TO APPLY please contact Lisha Lewis on 07394836496 or email Lisha.Lewis@Lewisham.gov.uk with a copy of your CV.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Salary

Independent Panel Members are paid a fixed fee for attendance at each meeting.

£250 is paid for a full day (09:30 up to 5pm) and £150 for sitting a half day (09:30 -1:00pm). Independent members will receive payments only for panels they attend.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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