Panel Advisor Fostering & Adoption

Role: Panel Advisor Fostering & Adoption

Department: Children Families & Education

Connect2Luton are excited to recruit a Panel Advisor Fostering & Adoption on behalf of Luton Borough Council within their Children Families & Education department.

Main purpose of position:

The Panel Advisor Fostering & Adoption will be advise and support the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) and Children's services staff and other stakeholders on adoption and fostering matters, initial and on-going assessment and selection of carers to whom the council can safely entrust.

As a Panel Advisor Fostering & Adoption you will be responsible to:

• Provide technical and statutory interpretation of policy and guidance relating to foster and adoption carer credibility to assist the ADM with the appointment, termination and review both approved carers and of members of the adjudicating panels.
• Assist the agency in the appointment, induction, training, annual appraisal, review and termination of panel members/chairs for inclusion on the "central list".
• Maintain an overview of the quality of the agency's reports to the panel and liaise with team managers to quality assure the child's permanence/fostering reports, the prospective adopters'/foster carer report and the adoption/foster placement report.
• Liaise with ADM, Panel Chair, adoption and fostering team members to co-ordinate training events for panel members; commission and/or provide training for panel members, in order to ensure up date knowledge of regulations.
• Manage projects in specialised and complex areas in line with departmental objectives and service development needs; update the panel on the general progress of ongoing considered cases and ensure the safe keeping of minutes and appropriate records.

Skills and Experience

• Substantial qualifying social work experience of working directly with children, young people and their families as determined adoptions reports regulations 2005.
• Able to support and challenge social services team to consistently achieve high levels of submissions for panels to adjudicate.
• Able to negotiate and influence staff at all levels, elected members and other professional both internal and external.
• Able to make sound professional judgements including high risk issues about children, parents, families and carers.
• Able to write and present reports for a variety of audiences including Elected Members.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of equality issues and legislation and the ability to integrate equality policies into strategies and service delivery.

DBS

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for Disclosure and Barring Service checks to be undertaken. Therefore, it is essential in making your application you disclose whether you have any convictions, bind overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exemptions) (Amendments) Order 1986. Therefore, applications are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being take-up, any failure to disclose such convictions will results in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority. The fact that a bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.

About Us

Luton Borough Council have partnered with Kent County Council to create Connect2Luton, a recruitment managed service for all contingent temporary agency, contract, and interim roles at the Council.

Our heritage and being local government owned which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the public sector, with many of our employees having previously worked for the Council or have supplied previously into the Council, for several years.

We are an equal opportunities employment agency and business that positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Connect2Luton is a trading style of Luton & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Luton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Luton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.