Adoption Panel Vice Chair

Family Futures; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 46,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

£150 per day as Panel member

£250 per day when replacing the Panel[

Job summary

Family Futures is seeking an Adoption Panel Vice Chair to contribute to robust decision-making for permanent homes for children with developmental trauma. The role involves reviewing papers, participating in panel meetings, and ensuring high standards of confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practice.

The candidate will bring experience in adoption or related care, strong communication and analytical skills, and a commitment to safeguarding within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Experience or lived experience of adoption, fostering, or related care.
• Understanding of trauma, attachment, and developmental impact on children.
• Ability to review papers and identify key issues.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Experience chairing meetings and managing diverse views.

Responsibilities

• Review panel papers in advance and prepare key questions.
• Participate in panel meetings and provide evidence-based recommendations.
• Assess cases against legislation, policies and guidance.
• Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Maintain confidentiality of panel papers and records.
• Attend meetings regularly and support panel operation and development.
• Provide feedback on policy and practice matters.
• Support Chair and chair meetings when required with clear records.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Confidentiality

Chairing meetings

Trauma-informed approach

Safeguarding

Diversity and inclusion

Teamwork

Education

Knowledge of adoption/fostering legislation

Experience on a statutory panel

Job description

Family Futures is actively seeking a Adoption Panel Vice Chair who aligns with our ethos and ambition to provide high-quality permanence placements for children who have experienced developmental trauma and have attachment difficulties.

About Family Futures

Family Futures is an independent, not-for-profit adoption agency and therapy centre based in London. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted for five consecutive inspections, we specialise in supporting children who have experienced developmental trauma and attachment difficulties, alongside the families who care for them.

The role

Being Vice Chair of our Adoption Panel which is made up of a diverse range of experienced professionals who are adopters or are currently working with children. The aim of the Panel is to ensure we as the Agency have carried out a thorough assessment of prospective adopters as we want to find the best possible parents for children in need of a permanent home.

We are seeking applicants who must be able to contribute to all Panel functions including:

• Review adoption, fostering and permanency panel papers in advance of meetings, identifying key issues and preparing questions where appropriate.
• Actively participate in panel meetings, contributing professional insight, balanced discussion and evidence-based recommendations.
• Assess applications and cases against relevant legislation, regulations, policies and best practice guidance to support robust decision-making.
• Promote safeguarding, equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in all panel discussions and recommendations.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality in relation to panel papers, discussions and decisions.
• Attend panel meetings regularly and contribute to the effective operation and continuous improvement of the panel service.
• Participate in training, induction and annual review processes to maintain and develop knowledge, skills and effectiveness as a panel member.
• Provide advice and feedback on policy, practice and procedural matters to support service quality and development.
• Support the Panel Chair in maintaining the quality and effectiveness of panel meetings, and chair meetings when required, ensuring clear, evidence-based recommendations and accurate records are produced.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has professional and/or lived experience of adoption, fostering, kinship care, or children being cared for away from their birth family.
• Understands the impact of separation, loss, developmental trauma and attachment difficulties on children’s lives and development.
• Has strong communication, listening and analytical skills, with the ability to review complex information and identify key issues.
• Is able to make balanced, evidence-based judgements and contribute confidently to professional discussions and decision-making.
• Values diversity and inclusion and is committed to anti-discriminatory practice.
• Has a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Works effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and is able to build positive working relationships.
• Understands the importance of confidentiality and handles sensitive information appropriately.
• Is willing to undertake training and continuous professional development.
• Previous experience as a member of an Adoption Panel, Fostering Panel or other statutory decision-making panel.
• Knowledge of adoption, fostering and permanency legislation, regulations and best practice guidance.
• Experience of chairing meetings, facilitating discussions and managing differing viewpoints constructively.
• Understanding of therapeutic parenting and trauma-informed approaches to supporting children and families.

Personal Qualities

You will be:

• Passionate about achieving the best possible outcomes for children and families.
• Respectful, inclusive and collaborative in your approach.
• Open-minded and able to consider a range of perspectives.
• Confident in expressing your views while listening to and valuing the views of others.
• Committed to learning, reflection and continuous improvement.
• Supportive of Family Futures’ values, vision and therapeutic approach.

For further discussion about the role and its responsibilities, you can use the contact details provided above and request a conversation with Sue Hughes, Assessment and Permanency Director.

Fees:

£150 per day as Panel member

£250 per day when replacing the Panel Chair as Vice Chair

Voluntary Adoption Agency registration number: SC462984