Do you have experience, either professionally or personally or both, of children being cared for away from their birth family?
Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of children who are care experienced?
We are particularly looking for adults with care experience and social workers with relevant experience.
We are looking for new independent panel members who can bring a new perspective to our Adoption Panel. We are very keen to hear from anyone is:
* Care experienced
* Trauma informed
* Has experience of fostering or adopting children
* Has experience of difference such as ethnicity, religion, heritage, gender, disability, and sexuality
* Has experience of health challenges
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
You will play a vital role in the assessment and approval of adopters, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interests of children and young people. You will contribute to adoption panel’s function of quality assurance, safeguarding, and promoting high standards of care.
Your Key Responsibilities will be:
Preparation and Participation
* To read all panel papers thoroughly before each meeting.
* To attend panel meetings prepared to discuss cases and contribute meaningfully.
Decision-Making
* To declare an interest before discussion begins if you have previous knowledge of the case to be presented to panel.
* To participate in making recommendations on each case, using personal lived experience and professional insight.
Attendance
* To attend scheduled panel meetings as agreed.
* To be available for additional panels when possible.
Policy and Practice
* To contribute to discussions on adoption policy and procedures.
Equality and Confidentiality
* To ensure that all those attending Panel are treated with respect and courtesy.
* To promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice and address diversity and cultural issues.
* To maintain confidentiality of all panel materials and discussions.
Training and Development
* To attend induction and a minimum of one training day annually.
* To engage in the annual review of your panel membership.
Conduct
* To adhere to Durham County Council’s code of conduct.
For more information please see the attached job description and person specification.
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HOW TO APPLY
We encourage you to contact Lesley Baldry, Panel Chair at lesley.baldry2@durham.gov.uk and Claire Grady, Panel Advisor at claire.grady@durham.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
When you are ready to apply please send your CV and covering letter to Dianne Main at Diane.Main@durham.gov.uk with a brief covering e‑mail explaining your interest in the role.
If your application is successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
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