Fostering Panel Vice Chair

Surrey County Council are seeking to appoint an Independent Fostering Panel Vice Chair to sit on our Fostering Panel. In exchange for supporting us to provide high quality foster care for our children, we offer a competitive fee per panel.

The Fostering Panel makes recommendations on who is suitable to care for vulnerable children, ensuring that the children in our care are placed in the best homes possible. We hold several panels each month and successful candidates will be placed on a rota along with other panel members.

The Vice Chair must be committed to supporting our aim to provide high quality foster care and achieving the best possible outcomes for our children. Due to current under-representation on our panel, we would particularly welcome applications if you are from a Global Majority background.

We would also particularly welcome applications from people with:

• Personal experience of being a parent to a child who is still under the age of 18
• Personal experience of being a Kinship carer or Special Guardian (this cannot be with Surrey)
• Personal experience of being a looked after child

Our panels take place in two venues in Surrey; Woking and Reigate, as well as virtually. You will be placed on a rota and will have the ability to travel to both venues and to undertake virtual meetings.

In addition to chairing some meetings, the vice chair is also expected to sit as a panel member on some panels. The expectation is that the vice chair commits to a minimum of six panels per year.

To support you with your new responsibilities we will provide you with the opportunity to attend training relevant to the role, as well as providing an annual training day with continuous access to online learning.

About the Role

As a Vice Chair, your main responsibilities in this role will be:

• When chairing meetings, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the Panel operates in accordance with Fostering Regulations and the policies and procedures of the agency.
• Preparation for Panel meetings, reading Panel papers carefully, identifying key issues and alerting the Panel Advisor if necessary to ensure, as far as possible, that the case is adequate for submission to Panel.
• To ensure that all those attending Panel are treated with respect and courtesy, promoting anti-discriminatory practice at all times.
• To ensure that any issues of concern, in relation both to individual cases and to more general matters, are shared with the Panel Chair and Panel Advisor.
• To support panel to identify key issues and to reach robust and well evidenced recommendations regarding the approval of foster carers or their ongoing registration.
• Regular liaison with the Chair of Panel, decision-maker and with other senior managers as required.
• To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions.

About You

These are the skills, knowledge and experiences we are looking for in our new Vice Chair. In your answers to the application questions below, you will be able to evidence;

• Your understanding of fostering processes and good practice, including knowledge of the legislative framework and relevant case law
• Your knowledge of Kinship Fostering
• A commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
• At least three years of experience sitting on a Fostering panel

Applying for the role of Vice Chair is nice and simple, all you have to do is answer 5 questions. These are:

• Are you available to attend panel meetings at least six times per year, on either Wednesdays or Thursdays, for days that may be from 9.15am to 4.30pm, at our offices in Woking and Reigate, Surrey? (Yes/No)
• What experience and skills do you have, that you feel make you a good candidate for the Independent vice chair role?
• What personal qualities do you think are essential for foster carers welcoming children into their homes?
• What do you believe is the most important function of a fostering panel?
• What, in your view, is the difference between the role of the chair and the vice chair of a fostering panel, and why do you believe that you are a suitable vice chair?

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 13/04/2025 with interviews to follow.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.