Role Overview:

Would you like to make a real difference in transforming the lives of children with a plan for adoption? Adopt South are seeking to appoint a Panel Chair for Adopt South's Adoption Panels.

Adopt South's Panels are made up of a diverse range of people who have personal or professional experience relevant to adoption. Our panels consider whether prospective adopters are suitable to adopt and whether children should be matched with prospective adopters. The panels make recommendations to the Adopt South's Agency Decision Maker (ADM) who has the final decision.

We have strong core values, and our panels offer independent scrutiny and quality assurance to the adoption agency and our partner local authorities, with a focus on meeting the needs of children who cannot live with their birth family. We hold panels on behalf of our partnership local authorities, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. If you have worked for any of these authorities, 12 months must have passed before you can be considered as a Panel Chair. If you are interested in becoming a Panel Chair, please apply below.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Experience, either professionally or personally or both, of the placement of children in adoptive and foster families and of children being cared for away from their birth family.

Experience of chairing complex meetings.

Role Responsibilities:

• To chair panel meetings, either in person or virtual, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the panel operates in accordance with regulations and the policies and procedures of the agency.
• To prepare for panel meetings, reading panel papers carefully, identifying key issues and alerting the agency adviser if necessary to ensure, as far as possible, that the case is adequate for submission to panel.
• Finalising panel members questions and identifying themes of questions for Prospective Adopters within given timeframe.
• To facilitate the active participation of all panel members in contributing to the panel's consideration of cases and to the making of clear and well-evidenced recommendations with the reasons for these.
• To ensure that all those attending panel are treated with respect and courtesy.
• To address diversity issues and to promote anti-discriminatory practice at all times.
• To ensure that clear and accurate minutes are written, which record any serious reservations which panel members may have, and to be involved in checking and agreeing draft minutes with other panel members before they are sent to the decision-maker.
• To liaise with the decision-makers and with other senior managers as required.
• To ensure, along with the agency adviser, that senior managers are aware of issues of concern, in relation both to individual cases and to more general matters.
• To be involved in the recruitment and appointment of central list panel members and in any consideration about terminating the appointment of a member.
• To review, possibly with the agency adviser, the performance of central list panel members as the need arises, and at least annually.
• To assist in developing, promoting and monitoring policies and procedures and high standards of work in adoption services in the agency.
• To assist in planning training for members and to participate in this at least one day per year.
• To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions.
• To be involved in:
• deciding whether a case is adequate for submission to panel;
• deciding on the attendance of observers at panel;
• deciding on the participation of a panel member who declares an interest in a case;
• deciding when an extra panel may be necessary;
• the preparation of an annual report on the panel's work

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check.

About Us

Connect2Hampshire is a managed service agency owned by Hampshire County Council providing temporary, contract and interim opportunities into the Council. Our service is built on our values of ethical, trustworthy, and caring, and our profits are returned to our Local Authority shareholders.

Connect2Hampshire, part of Hampshire & Kent Commercial Services LLP, is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.