Fostering Panel Member

We are seeking Independent Panel Members to join Dorset Council’s Fostering and Supported Lodgings Panel. The panel provides independent oversight of the recruitment, assessment and review of foster carers, supported lodgings hosts and connected persons, ensuring safe, consistent and child-centred recommendations in line with statutory requirements.

As a panel member, you will read detailed reports in advance, contribute thoughtfully to discussions and help shape recommendations regarding the suitability of applicants and carers.

Panel meetings take place two to three times per month, usually on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from approximately 09:20 to 16:30. Meetings are held at County Hall, Dorchester, with occasional virtual attendance where appropriate. Panel members are expected to attend at least 75% of the panels they are invited to each year.

Key responsibilities

• Read and evaluate all panel papers in advance of meetings.
• Attend panel meetings and contribute to balanced, evidence-based recommendations.
• Apply your personal and/or professional knowledge to assess complex cases.
• Provide constructive feedback on fostering and supported lodgings policy and practice when required.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant childcare legislation, fostering regulations and regulatory frameworks.
• Participate in annual appraisal and attend at least one fostering service training event each year.
• Support high standards and continuous improvement within the service.

About you

We welcome applicants with professional and/or lived experience in areas such as:

• children in care moving into foster homes
• children in care living with connected persons, wider family or friends
• supporting children cared for away from their birth family
• diversity and inclusion
• health, medical or mental health services
• social work or education
• recent experience of fostering
• personal experience as a child in care
• wider child or adult care experience

We particularly encourage applications from men and people from ethnically diverse communities, who are currently under-represented on the panel. Applications from qualified Social Workers are also welcomed.

You will bring strong communication and listening skills, the ability to analyse complex information, confidence in contributing to child-centred decisions, a commitment to confidentiality and professional standards, and a willingness to engage in ongoing learning and development.

Safeguarding

Dorset Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All panel members must share this commitment and will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, mandatory training on joining the panel, observation of at least two panels before sitting as a member, and an induction with the Panel Adviser, Panel Coordinator and Panel Chair.

For further information: Contact Natasha Emberley, Panel Advisor – [email protected]

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.