Panel Adviser
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Job Title: Panel Adviser
Location: Home-Based
Contract Type: Fixed Term - Maternity Cover
Hours: 37.5
Salary: £44,000 - £46,000 dependent on experience
This is an exciting opportunity to join the National Panel Service as a Panel Adviser. You will be working with a dedicated team of administration staff and other advisers to ensure the effective running of a Panel inline with Fostering Regulations and National Minimum Standards.
About National Fostering Group
Its official, we have been rated as a Great Place to Work 2025!
83% of employees at National Fostering Group say it is a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company!
With over 20 years experience, National Fostering Group is the largest independent children's fostering group in the UK with a community of over 2,500 foster carers.
As a Group, we work with Local Authorities to provide the highest quality of care for children and young people. All of our fostering agencies are officially recognised by Ofsted, Welsh and Scottish regulators as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ which we are extremely proud of.
We also offer a 4 day working week - this means 80% of the hours for 100% pay! This will be given following a successful 6 month probationary period and is a performance based benefit.
About the role
* Provide professional social work advice to the Fostering Panel and Chairs.
* Ensure panel procedures meet all regulatory and legislative requirements.
* Recruit, induct, and appraise panel members, supporting a diverse and compliant central list.
* Coordinate panel training, maintain accurate panel records, and ensure high‑quality minutes.
* Produce quarterly reports and support inspections, quality assurance, and decision‑making processes.
Please find a full list of responsibilities on the job description attached.
Who we are looking for
* An experienced social work professional with strong knowledge of fostering legislation and standards.
* Confident in analysing complex cases and giving clear, evidence‑based advice.
* Skilled in relationship‑building and working collaboratively with chairs, assessors, and partner agencies.
* Highly organised with excellent accuracy, communication, and record‑keeping skills.
* Committed to social work ethics, diversity, and ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing.
Please find a full list of criteria on the person specification attached.
But what else is in it for you? Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
* Up to 40 days annual leave each year (26 base entitlement + 1 One moment in time + 8 bank holidays + ability to buy up to 5 extra days)
* Life Assurance
* Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
* “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
* A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
* 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
* Cycle to Work Schemes
* Electric Car Purchase Scheme
* Critical illness cover
And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the children and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer
Job ID: (phone number removed)