Fostering Panel Advisor

Cambridge County Council; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing package

4 weeks additional annual leave

Flexible bank holidays

Additional Voluntary Contributions toP

Development opportunities and coaches

Paid volunteering hours

Peer Support Groups (IDEAL network)

Employee Recognition Awards

Our Cambs Rewards discounts

Car Lease

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Cambridge County Council is seeking an experienced Panel Advisor to join the Fostering Service Management Team. This role combines professional leadership, quality assurance, policy development and fostering panel oversight to ensure high-quality fostering services for children and young people.

You will act as Agency Adviser, provide expert guidance on fostering legislation and standards, and collaborate with managers and practitioners to drive continuous improvement across the service.

Qualifications

• Social Work England registration required.
• Significant post-qualifying experience in fostering, family placement or children's services.
• Knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Experience in quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.
• Strong communication, analytical and organisational skills.
• Ability to work from a variety of locations and travel countywide independently.
• Experience with fostering panels, policy development, training or quality assurance programmes would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Act as Agency Adviser to the Fostering Panel, providing expert advice on policy, practice and decision-making.
• Lead the organisation and management of the fostering panel schedule, ensuring panels are appropriately planned, quorate and compliant.
• Oversee the quality assurance of reports and assessments presented to panel, providing constructive challenge and feedback to practitioners and managers.
• Promote excellent fostering practice across the service and escalate concerns where standards are not met.
• Develop, review and implement fostering policies, procedures and practice standards in line with national guidance and legislation.
• Lead on quality assurance systems, audit activity and performance monitoring to drive continuous improvement across the service.
• Produce detailed reports, analysing data and identifying themes, trends and opportunities for service development.
• Support the recruitment, induction, training, appraisal and ongoing development of panel members.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners to ensure services remain responsive to the needs of children, carers and families.

Skills

Fostering experience

Quality assurance

Auditing

Communication

Analytical skills

Organisation

Professional challenge

Relationship building

Travel countywide

Education

Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England

Job description

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced social work professional with a passion for quality assurance, service improvement and fostering practice to make a significant impact across the organisation.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Panel Advisor to join our Fostering Service Management Team. This is a pivotal role that combines professional leadership, quality assurance, policy development and fostering panel oversight to ensure that children and young people receive high‑quality fostering services.

As the Agency Adviser to the Fostering Panel, you will provide expert guidance on fostering legislation, regulations, National Minimum Standards and best practice. You will play a key role in supporting high standards across the service, promoting continuous improvement and ensuring that children, carers and families receive effective, safe and compliant services.

To succeed in this role you will require close collaboration with fostering managers, social work practitioners, panel members, senior leaders and partner agencies, helping shape service development, influence practice standards and contribute to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Benefits

• A comprehensive wellbeing package to cover all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, which can also be accessed by your family
• Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro‑rata) through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings
• Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day
• Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network
• Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards
• An Our Cambs Rewards account, giving you access to in-store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes

What will you be doing?

• Acting as Agency Adviser to the Fostering Panel, providing expert advice on fostering regulations, policy, practice and decision‑making.
• Leading the organisation and management of the fostering panel schedule, ensuring panels are appropriately planned, quorate and compliant.
• Overseeing the quality assurance of reports and assessments presented to panel, providing constructive challenge and feedback to practitioners and managers.
• Promoting excellent fostering practice across the service and escalating concerns where standards are not being met.
• Developing, reviewing and implementing fostering policies, procedures and practice standards in line with national guidance and legislation.
• Leading on quality assurance systems, audit activity and performance monitoring to drive continuous improvement across the service.
• Producing detailed reports, analysing data and identifying themes, trends and opportunities for service development.
• Supporting the recruitment, induction, training, appraisal and ongoing development of panel members.
• Working collaboratively with internal and external partners to ensure services remain responsive to the needs of children, carers and families.
• Contributing to inspections, regulatory activity and service reviews by providing expert advice and evidence of compliance.
• Supporting senior managers through the provision of professional challenge, advice and recommendations to improve outcomes for children.

About you

• A Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Significant post‑qualifying experience in fostering, family placement or children's services.
• Knowledge of fostering legislation, regulations and National Minimum Standards.
• Experience of quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.
• Strong communication, analytical and organisational skills.
• The confidence to provide professional challenge and promote good practice.
• The ability to build effective relationships with practitioners, managers and partners.
• The ability to work from a variety of locations and travel countywide independently.

Experience of fostering panels, policy development, training or quality assurance programmes would be an advantage.

Most importantly, you will be passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and committed to maintaining high standards across fostering services.

For a full list of the requirements of the role, please check out the Job Description & Person Specification.

For more information or to chat about this opportunity please contact Ana Caldararu, Fostering Service Manager, on 07484 021 637.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We fully support providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, as well as when you join us, and we encourage candidates to contact the Hiring Manager to discuss any adjustment needs. We will offer an interview to all applicants who disclose a disability and meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy. On your application form you can indicate you are disabled. Some examples of reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process could include additional time to complete an assessment or printing a document on pastel coloured paper with larger font size and line spacing.

Visit our jobs and careers section to find out more about our wide range of learning and development opportunities; apprenticeships; our wellbeing package; staff benefits; our commitment to equality, diversity and Inclusion.

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/jobs-and-career