Fostering Panel Chair

Role Responsibility

£400 per half day panel (9am-1pm) inclusive of reading time, plus travel expenses and training

The successful applicant will not be employed by Kent County Council and must not be a current KCC employee.

Kent Fostering Service are looking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced, self-employed professional as an Independent Chair for Kent Fostering Panels. It is desirable that applicants have existing experience as a Chair or Vice Chair. While meetings are currently being held virtually, they may resume as face-to-face meetings held in Ashford.

The role of Chair is crucial to our success in improving outcomes for children in care. Applicants must have experience and confidence in effectively chairing complex meetings and must have a good understanding of Fostering panel processes. The Panel Chair will take responsibility for ensuring that business is conducted in accordance with the fostering regulations and guidance and in keeping with local authority’s policies and procedures. It is expected that the Panel Chair will ensure that the panel functions within a clear anti-discriminatory framework and be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge of child development and current good practice initiatives. The Chair will liaise with Panel members to identify any questions to be raised and will contact the Fostering Panel Adviser if any clarification is needed prior to the Panel meeting. It is important the applicants have good time-management and summarising skills and are able to promote a good focus so that business proceeds effectively and robust recommendations are made to inform the Agency Decision-maker.

Kent Fostering operates six panels a month across the County and this vacancy sits within our South Kent Panel which is based in Ashford. However, there may be the opportunity to cover additional Panel’s which may be held either in Ashford or Whitstable. In addition to chairing the Fostering Panel there will be Panel Chair business meetings and training events which will need to be attended during the year. The Chair will be expected to be available for at least 80% of panel meetings.

The contract will be awarded for two years subject to annual review.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be required to obtain the Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurances prior to commencement of the work with no extra cost to the Council.

Closing date is 3rd March 2022 with interviews taking place on 16th March 2022.

Contact Details

For further information regarding this position contact Mark Vening, Team Manager on 03000 419848 mark.vening@kent.gov.uk or Nicola Anthony, Head of Fostering on 03000 418510 nicola.anthony@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.