Your new role
Southend Council are looking to appoint a permanent, full-time, Fostering & Adoption Panel Advisor.The principal role of the panel advisor is to provide professional advice to the Adoption and Fostering Panels, ensuring that the arrangements for panel are coordinated in advance, run smoothly on the day, and that follow-up actions and reports happen as required.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the central list provides sufficient panel members to meet the needs of the family placement work. To oversee processes for the approval of foster carers and early permanence decisions, as well as promoting and supporting a range of family placement arrangements within Children's Services, working in partnership with colleagues internally and externally.
The successful candidate will establish systems/best practice to support the decision-making process, including training and development in line with Fostering regulations and National Minimum Standards, ensuring that the LA achieves timely permanence for children in care across the full range of legal options, including adoption, special guardianship, residence orders, family and friends and permanent/long term foster care.Leading and working closely in collaboration with the Head of Service, Service Managers, Team Managers, Independent Reviewing Officers, and Children's Social Workers to develop and maintain relevant management information systems, and to lead on the analysis and reporting of practice/business activities linked to permanency and fostering panel. They will coordinate and attend permanency panel, permanency planning meetings and case track meetings, advising on the best way to achieve the most appropriate outcomes for children.The position is hybrid working, depending on the need for on-site panel meetings.
What you'll need to succeed
To be shortlisted for this position, you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.It is essential that you have extensive fostering and adoption experience along with panel adviser knowledge.
You are required to have 2+ years performance/quality assurance experience as well as knowledge of legislation and fostering regulations gained within a social services context. Previous experience (preferably in a management capacity) of working with children and families and policy development. Experience of Quality Audit processes and their application within a service-focussed environmentAbility to relate and communicate effectively verbally and in writing, with a wide range of audiences, including service users, professional staff and senior managers in various agencies.
What you'll get in return
When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
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