Adoption Panel Chair

Wiltshire Council; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional adoption agency is seeking an Independent Chair for its Adoption Panel, responsible for chairing virtual panels, preparing for meetings, and ensuring quality during evaluations. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of the adoption process and previous experience in similar roles. This position offers £571 per panel, along with fees for training events and meetings. Join a meaningful endeavor to improve adoption services in the community.

Benefits

Competitive panel fees

Flexible remote working

Contribution to training events

Qualifications

• Experience in the adoption process required.
• Skills for chairing meetings and panels essential.
• Ability to engage with adoption advisers and decision makers needed.

Responsibilities

• Chair 20 panels a year, mostly virtual.
• Prepare for and lead panel meetings.
• Quality check minutes and involve in annual appraisals.

Skills

Understanding of the adoption process

Skills to chair adoption panels

Ability to contribute to service performance

Job description

Job Description

Adoption West is looking to appoint an Independent Chair to its Adoption Panel due to the retirement of one of its three Chairs at the end of March 2026. Adoption West is a regional adoption agency covering six local authorities in the South West. We are looking for a Chair who has a sound understanding and experience of the adoption process, the skills to chair an Adoption Panel and who can contribute to the overall performance of the Adoption Service.

Adoption West have three panel Chairs, with each Chair usually chairing 20 panels a year. Our panels have been run virtually since April 2020 with a very occasional face to face panel held if needed. We also hold face to face training days twice a year for all panel members.

The fee paid to the Chair is currently £571 per Adoption Panel. The fee includes preparation for and chairing the Panel meeting, quality checking the minutes of the Panel, involvement in Panel members' annual appraisals and contribution toward the 6 monthly reports as well as online attendance at meetings with the Adoption Advisers or Agency Decision Makers (currently four times a year and twice a year respectively). An additional fee will be paid for contribution towards any Panel training events and attendance at any SWAC (South West Adoption Consortium) meetings.