The Role

Wandsworth Council is seeking to recruit on a casual basis an independent chair for their fostering panel.

Wandsworth Council is investing strongly in its fostering provision with a target to significantly increase the number of looked after children placed with in-house foster carers. The role of the Chair is crucial to our success in improving outcomes for Looked After Children.

We are seeking to appoint a competent and accomplished professional with the ability to ensure that the panel functions within a clear anti-discriminatory framework. You will need to be able to demonstrate expertise in childcare planning and child development with a detailed and up to date knowledge of the legislative framework for Fostering, and a comprehensive understanding of the national standards and current good practice initiatives. The suitable candidate must have excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and be able to put prospective and approved foster carers at ease whilst promoting sound and responsible decision-making.

Wandsworth Council currently operates two panels a month on the first and third Wednesday and considers fostering, connected persons and parent and child approvals. In addition to chairing the Fostering Panel there will be Panel Chair responsibilities and at least one training day during the year. The Chair will be expected to be available for at least 80% of panel meetings.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring service.  

Full day panel £1,000

If you would like to discuss this opportunity before applying please contact Steve Pearson, Fostering Manager by email – steve.pearson@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date:  Sunday 9^th June 2019

Interview Date: Week starting Monday 17^th June 2019

Useful Information:

Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils