Volunteer Adoption Panel Members

Adoption Matters; North East; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in children's welfare seeks compassionate individuals to join their volunteer adoption panels. This role involves reviewing adoption applications and making recommendations, ensuring a supportive environment for prospective adopters. With a commitment to inclusivity, the organization encourages individuals from all backgrounds to apply. As a volunteer, you will play a crucial part in the adoption process, contributing to the well-being of children and families in need. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Travel expenses reimbursement

Responsibilities

• Participate in adoption panels to review applications.
• Provide a warm and friendly approach to prospective adopters.

Job description

Adoption Matters is a registered children’s charity and one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) in the UK. We recruit, train, and support individuals and families as adopters and offer them ongoing support and training for as long as they need it. We also provide support to birth families and adopted adults. Ofsted has rated us ‘Outstanding’ since 2008, making us the ONLY adoption service in the North of England rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted 5 times in a row.

Adoption Matters adoption panels are held regularly, both in person and remotely online via Teams. The panel reviews every adoption application and makes a recommendation to our Agency Decision Maker regarding the applicant’s suitability to adopt. This is part of the legal process to become an approved adopter.

At Adoption Matters, we want to ensure that our adoption panels continue to be warm, friendly, and approachable. We know how much prospective adopters appreciate the sense of their applications being considered by people similar to themselves. We also recognize that we place children with a wide range of needs from a variety of backgrounds. As such, we encourage expressions of interest from all areas of the community. Under adoption regulations, people who have adopted need to wait at least 12 months after the making of any adoption order before they can join a panel.

Please be advised that our panel members are volunteers; while travel expenses can be claimed, it is an unpaid role.

If you would like to explore joining one of our panels further, please get in touch with our Service Managers: Paul Dolan at [e-mail] for our panels held in Blackburn and Durham, or Jacqui Shore at [e-mail] for our panels held in Chester to find out more about what is involved.

More about us

Adoption Matters is a children’s charity and one of the largest Voluntary Adoption Agencies in the UK. Rated Ofsted 'Outstanding' since 2008.