Are you passionate about the positive difference foster carers can make for our children and young people? Are you looking for a way to use your experience at a senior level working with children and young people, and of chairing complex meetings with a range of stakeholders? We are looking for an additional Fostering Panel Chair to help us continue to improve outcomes for Children in our Care. This could be the right opportunity for you! WHAT IS INVOLVED? As panel chair you will: Be responsible for ensuring our Fostering Panel is an inclusive, anti-discriminatory forum which promotes sound and responsible decision making with children at its heart. Provide leadership to the Fostering Panel ensuring an effective Panel which provides robust recommendations to the Agency Decision Maker. Support the development of our Fostering Service through strong links to the Panel Advisor, Fostering Management Team and the Agency Decision Maker. Panels are held weekly, but you can offer your availability to attend weekly or every 2 weeks. A fee of £450 is paid per Panel meeting. For more information please see the attached job description. WHAT WILL I NEED? To be a Fostering Panel Chair you should: Be passionate about the positive difference foster carers can make for our children and young people. Have a commitment to keeping children within their own family or community where this is possible and to maintaining contact between children living in foster families and their birth families where this appears to be in the child’s best interests. Have a commitment to fostering as a way of meeting a child’s needs, where this appears to be in the child’s best interests. Have experience, either professionally or personally or both, of the placement of children in foster families and of children being cared for away from their birth family. Have experience at a senior level in a setting related to child development and/or working with vulnerable young people. Have experience of chairing complex meetings with a range of stakeholders. Have a sound understanding of Fostering Panel processes and the legislative landscape within which the panel operates. Ideally, you will also hold a qualification in Social Work and be registered with Social Work England. Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE? We encourage you to contact Rachael Riley, Service Manager, for an informal discussion about the role. You can contact Rachael by e-mail at Rachael.Riley@durham.gov.uk HOW DO I APPLY? When you are ready to apply please send your CV to Rachael.Riley@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. VPRS/161