Job description
Hours: 0 hours per week
Contract Type: Casual
Service Area: Family Placement
Department: Children’s Services & Education
Bath and North East Somerset Foster Care are looking to appoint Independent Fostering Panel Members to its Fostering Panel and its Fostering Families Panel. Both panels currently consider cases in relation to the approval of fostering and fostering families applicants and the review of the approval of existing carers.
You will participate on the recommendation on each case drawing on both personal and professional knowledge and experience. To participate with other members in considering policy and procedural matters, to address diversity issues and promote anti-discriminatory practice and to sit on Panel to make recommendations about the suitability to foster of applicants and existing carers.
We are looking for someone who will always be thinking of the child, ensuring they are at the forefront of all decisions. Members of the panel must be able to work as a team member to achieve best outcomes for the children. Experience of working in the fostering sector and/or children/young people would be an advantage but not necessary, as would knowledge of and empathy for the role of Children’s Social Care.
The panel is held 1-3 times per month. Currently the panels are usually held on the first Thursday of each month, with additional panels held on other Thursdays if required. The panel convenes at 08:30 and the work is generally concluded by 17:00. Panels are held on Microsoft Teams. Twice per year we provide full day panel training, in person, in Keynsham.
The Fostering Panel Members are classified as Casual Workers. Their pay will be subject to tax, national insurance and pension where applicable. Panel members will be paid £110 per panel, regardless of the duration or complexity of panel.
The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS application or be on the update service. We are an Equal Opportunities employer.
Your main place of work will be the award-winning, modern Civic Centre in Keynsham, halfway between Bath and Bristol, easily accessible via car or public transport, with a train station 5 minutes’ walk away.
Why B&NES Council?
We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need. These include:
- A competitive salary package
- A range of flexible working and hybrid working options, including flexi-time, four regional offices and home-working, dependent on service requirements
- The Local Government Pension Scheme
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme – whatever life throws at you; we are committed to supporting you and your well-being at work and home
- Professional and personal development
- Discount scheme including the VECTIS card that offers numerous local discounts
Interested to find out more?
If you are interested in this post and require more details after reading the job description or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Toni Mayo on 01225 395315 or at [email protected]
To apply
Please use the online application facility.
For further information on applying please see “Application Form Help” page on the Jobs website.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. We have four core values which shape every aspect of our working life and how we look to the future. These values are to be Bold, Empowered, Supportive and Transparent.
Please explain in your application how you could incorporate these values into the role you are applying for.
We are unable to sponsor candidates for this role under the Home Office Tier 2 points-based system (skilled worker route), therefore you must be able to obtain and provide your own right to work in the UK’. Please refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist which provides details of which documents are acceptable. Should you be shortlisted you will be asked to bring your right to work documents with you to your interview so they can be copied and verified at that stage.
As an equal opportunities employer, Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and is opposed to discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender reassignment, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with/without barred list checks.
As this post involves working within one of these groups, we will require a Disclosure & Barring Service check and/or subscription to the DBS online service. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment.
This is a Public Services Network (PSN) role and requires all successful applicants to undergo a Basic Disclosure check and a 3 year’s verification of employment history. Please note that any start date will be dependent on the receipt of a satisfactory Disclosure and verification of employment history.
Please note the Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register. This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role, they will be interviewed before any shortlisting or interviewing of external candidates.