Adoption Panel Chair

Wiltshire Council; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional adoption agency is seeking an Independent Chair for its Adoption Panel in the East Midlands. The role involves chairing panels, contributing to the performance of the Adoption Service, and ensuring the quality of panel meetings. The chair will be compensated £571 per panel, which includes preparation, quality checking, and online attendance at meetings. Ideal candidates must have a strong understanding of the adoption process and relevant experience. This role is primarily virtual, with occasional in-person meetings.

Qualifications

• Sound understanding and experience of the adoption process.
• Skills to chair an Adoption Panel effectively.
• Ability to contribute towards the overall performance of the Adoption Service.

Responsibilities

• Chair an Adoption Panel and prepare for panel meetings.
• Quality check the minutes of the Panel.
• Participate in annual appraisals of panel members.

Skills

Understanding of the adoption process

Experience chairing discussions

Ability to contribute to performance evaluation

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.