The panel is chaired by a designated independent chairperson, with substantial experience of working with children and young people, including work in a management role. An appropriately qualified, vice-chairperson is appointed to act in the absence of the chairperson.
Every panel meeting is minuted by an administrator from the agency. The minutes are required to record proceedings of the meeting, including the reasons for any recommendations made by panel.
Your assessing social worker will present your foster carer assessment to the panel meeting, and respond to the panel’s questions in relation to the assessment
As prospective foster carers you will be invited to attend part of the panel meeting at which your approval is discussed. Your assessing social worker will be there with you to offer support and advice before, during and after panel. Panel will usually ask you some question and you will also be given the opportunity to ask questions of panel.
If you are an approved foster carer, you may also be invited to attend Panel following their annual review of approval if changes to approval are being considered. Your supervising social worker or other representative from Team Fostering should be available to accompany you at the Panel meeting
You will then be asked to leave panel with your assessing social worker(or supervising social worker for approved carers) whilst Panel deliberate and make their recommendations.
The Fostering Panel makes clear recommendations to the agency as to whether, in its view, individual applicants should be approved/re-approved. After making their recommendations the Panel Chair will come out from the panel meeting to inform you of the Panel’s recommendations
Following Panel the Agency Decision Maker makes a final decision on behalf of the agency regarding whether applicants should be approved/re-approived as Foster Carers for Team
You will be notified in writing of the Agency Decision Maker’s decision on behalf of the agency regarding your approval/re-approval as carers for the agency