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136 <h1>
136 Fostering Panel
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 This chapter explains the membership, purpose, functions and arrangements for meetings of
the Fostering Panel.
144 </p>
145 </div>
152 <div class="section">
152 <h2 id="purp_func">
152 1. Purpose and Function
152 </h2>
153 <p>
153 The Fostering Panel monitors the range and type of foster carers available to the local
authority in comparison with the needs of children, and plays a key role in the improvement
of standards within the fostering service.
153 </p>
154 <p>
154 As part of this function, the Panel oversees the conduct of assessments and annual reviews
of approved foster carers, advises on any relevant matters in relation to the fostering
service and makes recommendations to Children's Services about quality issues and
performance standards.
154 </p>
155 <p>
155 In particular, the Panel makes recommendations as to the following:
155 </p>
156 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
157 <li>
157 The suitability of applicants to act as foster carers and terms of their approval
(including Connected Persons);
157 </li>
158 <li>
158 Exemptions from the limit to the number of children placed with foster carers;
158 </li>
159 <li>
159 The continued suitability of the foster carers and whether the terms of the approval
remain appropriate (after the first annual review of foster carers and any other review
where significant changes or termination of approval is recommended - see
159 <a href="p_review_fos_care.html">
159 Review and Termination of Approval of Foster Carers Procedure
159 </a>
159 );
159 </li>
160 <li>
160 Any other special matters relevant to a foster carer which the Chair of the Panel
considers appropriate to be referred;
160 </li>
161 <li>
161 Referrals to the Independent Review Mechanism - see
161 <a href="p_ass_app_fost.html#representations_review">
161 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Procedure, Representations / Independent
Review Procedure
161 </a>
161 .
161 </li>
162 </ol>
163 <p>
163 The Panel will also receive and consider any representations challenging a decision not to
approve an applicant as suitable, or to terminate or revise the terms of a foster carer's
approval - see
163 <a href="p_ass_app_fost.html#representations_review">
163 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Procedure, Representations / Independent Review
Procedure
163 </a>
163 .
163 </p>
164 <p>
164 The Panel will receive the Fostering Service Manager's annual report on the Panel's
business, including statistical information about approvals, reviews, termination of
approvals, the number of children in placement and complaints received about foster carers
during the preceding year.
164 </p>
165 <p>
165 The Chair will communicate any issues of concern to the Fostering Service Manager and take
part in quarterly meetings with them and the Vice Chair to review the Panel's functioning
and report on the quality of work being presented to Panel, to ensure good standards are
maintained.
165 </p>
166 <p>
166 At the quarterly meetings, the Panel Administrator will provide statistical information in
relation to the Panel business, together with information on the numbers of foster carers
used by the local authority and the number of children looked after by the local authority.
This will enable an appraisal of the extent to which the fostering service is meeting the
demand for placements.
166 </p>
167 </div>
168 <div class="section1">
168 </div>
174 <div class="section">
174 <h2 id="membership">
174 2. Membership
174 </h2>
175 <p>
175 There is no fixed panel membership or maximum number of members or maximum tenure of office.
175 </p>
176 <p>
176 The membership must be drawn from a Central List of persons with the appropriate
qualifications and/or experience, including one or more social workers who have at least 3
years' relevant post-qualifying experience.
176 </p>
177 <p>
177 Where it is considered that someone is unsuitable to be on the Central List, they must be
given one months' notice in writing and reasons for the decision to end their inclusion on
the list. The Chair will be appointed by the and will be a senior manager with
responsibility for the fostering service or an independent person
177 <a href="pr_desg_man.html#foster_panel_appt">
177 Designated Manager (Fostering Panel Appointments)
177 </a>
177 . (As from 1st October 2011 an Independent Chair must be appointed.)
177 </p>
178 <p>
178 The Designated Manager must also appoint up to two Vice Chairs, whose role is to chair the
Panel when the Chair is unavailable.
178 </p>
179 <p>
179 Reasonable expenses relating to attendance can be met, including travelling expenses and
childcare; there is an allowance for attending training sessions plus travel expenses.
179 </p>
180 <p>
180 All Panel members must have been the subjects of a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring
Service checks before taking up their appointment. These Disclosure and Barring Service
checks should be kept up to date and recorded, including the date when the checks were made.
Personal and work references will also be obtained in writing and must be satisfactory.
180 </p>
181 <p>
181 Each member must be provided with written information on appointment of their performance
objectives, including their participation in induction and other training and safeguarding
the confidentiality of records and information submitted to Panel. They will be asked to
sign an agreement with the fostering service, in relation to their membership, covering the
service expectations (including the requirement to report any involvement in criminal
proceedings), confidentiality issues and commitment to anti-discriminatory practice.
181 </p>
182 <p>
182 All Panel members will also be required to attend at least one Panel meeting as an observer
before taking up their membership. Panel members should complete induction training within
10 weeks of joining the Central List, have access to appropriate training and skills
development and have the opportunity to attend joint training with fostering staff at least
annually.
182 </p>
183 <p>
183 The quorum is 5 provided that the following are present:
183 </p>
184 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-roman">
185 <li>
185 Either the Chair or one of the Vice Chairs (in the absence of the chair). If the meeting
is conducted by the vice chair who is not independent, there must be at least one other
member of the panel who is independent;
185 </li>
186 <li>
186 One of the social worker representatives with at least 3 years post qualifying experience;
186 </li>
187 <li>
187 3 (or in the case of a joint panel, four) other members.
187 </li>
188 </ol>
189 <p>
189 Panel members may request any relevant information or assistance they require, including
medical or legal advice, from the fostering agency and, if so requested, this must be
provided by the fostering agency.
189 </p>
190 <p>
190 There must be a process for review of the performance of Panel members (including of the
Panel chair by the agency decision maker) and for the performance management of members.
Where necessary the termination of the appointment must be considered.
190 </p>
191 <p>
191 Where there are concerns about a Panel member's behaviour either inside or outside the
meetings, and this cannot be dealt with by advice, training and/or information, this will
raised by the Chair with the Designated Manager (Fostering Panel Appointments).
191 </p>
192 <p>
192 The Designated Manager will decide whether someone is unsuitable to be on the Central List
and therefore to end the appointment and if so, will advise the member in writing giving one
month's notice and clear reasons for the decision.
192 </p>
193 Panel members may resign by giving one month's notice to the Designated Manager (Fostering
Panel Appointments).
193 </div>
194 <div class="section1">
194 </div>
200 <div class="section">
200 <h2 id="meetings">
200 3. Meetings
200 </h2>
201 <p>
201 The Panel Administrator, with the Chair's authority, will arrange additional special
meetings as necessary.
201 </p>
202 <p>
202 The Panel Administrator will arrange for the Legal Adviser to attend the Panel if required
by the Chair or by the worker presenting a report.
202 </p>
203 <p>
203 The Panel's Medical Adviser will provide medical advice on matters to be brought to the
Panel, by attendance at Panel meetings or where this is not possible by telephone or an
exchange of correspondence on individual cases in advance of the meeting as considered
appropriate.
203 </p>
204 <p>
204 The Panel Administrator may arrange for observers to attend meetings, in consultation with
the Chair, but no more than 2 observers may attend at any one time.
204 </p>
205 <p>
205 The Panel welcomes the attendance of prospective foster carers at meetings during
consideration of their applications for approval. Applicants can attend with a supporter and
'be heard' at fostering panel meetings that consider their approval - for the assessment and
approval process in more detail - see
205 <a href="p_ass_app_fost.html">
205 Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers Procedure
205 </a>
205 .
205 </p>
206 <p>
206 The Panel Administrator, in consultation with the Chair, prepares the agenda for each
meeting and sends out the agenda to Panel members 5 working days before the meeting.
206 </p>
207 <p>
207 Those presenting reports to the Panel must send their reports to the Panel Administrator at
least 10 working days before the date of the Panel. The Panel Administrator will arrange for
the documentation to be distributed to Panel members.
207 </p>
208 <p>
208 The Chair's role is to ensure that all members participate fully in the meetings (unless an
interest has been declared - see below) and that each member has an opportunity to raise
questions or offer comments on each matter considered, that sensitive regard is paid to
foster carers while keeping the child's welfare paramount, that consensus is achieved
wherever possible and that the Panel has clear reasons for its recommendations.
208 </p>
209 <p>
209 Where there is a serious difference of opinion among members, the Chair may ask for more
information to be made available to the Panel before a recommendation is made. Serious
reservations expressed by individual Panel members about a particular recommendation must be
recorded in the Panel minutes for consideration by the
209 <a href="pr_desg_man.html#agency_foster">
209 Agency Decision Maker (Fostering)
209 </a>
209 .
209 </p>
210 <p>
210 At the end of meetings, the Panel Administrator will collect all reports and agenda from
members (for shredding). Panel members who are unable to attend meetings will be asked to
return papers to the Panel Administrator (for shredding) as soon as practicable.
210 </p>
211 <p>
211 The Panel Administrator will prepare the minutes in which reasons for recommendations and
any disagreements or dissent will be fully recorded.
211 </p>
212 <p>
212 S/he will send the minutes to the Chair for approval of their accuracy, and then submit them
to the Agency Decision Maker (Fostering) for approval of the recommendations made.
212 </p>
213 <p>
213 The assessing social worker/supervising social worker will also ensure that applicants,
foster carers and social workers are notified of Panel recommendations within one working
day of the Panel. The Panel Administrator will provide social workers with a copy of the
relevant minute after a decision has been made by the Agency Decision Maker.
213 </p>
214 <h3>
214 Conflicts of Interest
214 </h3>
215 <p>
215 Panel members should consider any conflicts of interest in relation to Panel agenda items. A
potential conflict arises if an interest may be seen to adversely affect a Panel member's
capacity to act without prejudice or preference in a matter.
215 </p>
216 <p>
216 It is anticipated that in many circumstances there may be professional knowledge of a case
which should be notified to the Chair but which will not affect a member's capacity to
participate in the Panel. In other circumstances there may be a personal interest or
connection which would require the Panel member to refrain from participation. It may be
less clear in some cases when advice should be sought.
216 </p>
217 <p>
217 In the case of a potential conflict of interest where advice is required, Panel members
should consult the Chair or Legal Adviser, giving as much advance notice as possible
particularly having regard to the implications for the quorum.
217 </p>
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