4.7.1 Fostering Panel Policy

AMENDMENT

This policy was amended in October 2011 to take account of the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 (regulations 23 to 25) and Standard 14 of the National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011, in particular in relation to the requirement to have a Central List of Panel members, from which Panel members are drawn for each meeting.

1. Introduction

1.1	This policy and accompanying procedural guidance aim to bring together key messages from the relevant legislation¹, and good practice promoted by BAAF, to ensure that Dudley MBC Children's Specialist Services Fostering Panel and Decision Maker are able to:
	"make timely, quality and appropriate recommendations/decisions in line with the overriding objective to promote the welfare of children in foster care." (Fostering Services NMS 2011 Standard 14)

¹The Children Act 1989, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2011 The Fostering Services Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 4) and National Minimum Standards for Fostering 2011 (NMS)

2. The Role of Fostering Panel

2.1	Fostering Panels have a crucial role to play in the provision and monitoring of foster care for children. Their primary legal function is to ensure that their recommendations contribute to good quality decisions about the approval of new applicants, the continued approval of foster carers, whether long term fostering is in the best interests of children, and matching children to appropriate long term foster carers. It is vitally important that Fostering Panel bears in mind the possibility of adoption for all children when permanent plans are being made. Reports presented to Panel must have explored all options with respect of the child's Care Plan. Should adoption be considered more appropriate then this would need to be referred to the Adoption Panel - see Placement for Adoption Procedure.
2.2	In Dudley the Fostering Panel is also notified of Private Fostering arrangements assessed by the specialist Social Worker, through the provision of private fostering suitability reports. Whilst Panel has no decision-making authority in relation to private fostering, the view of Panel is valued and provides additional independent oversight of what can sometimes be complex arrangements for young people and their families. In addition, Panel receipt of private fostering assessments ensures there is a central repository of information in relation to privately fostered children, which is useful if young people or their carers move out of borough and information is sought by external agencies.
2.3	An additional requirement of Panel is to provide quality assurance in relation to all reports presented to Fostering Panel including applications for approval and the continued suitability of foster carers through the review process. Panel will be asked to contribute through the Chair to the Fostering Service Annual Report, therefore the themes that have been identified throughout the year will form the basis of this process.
2.4	The Fostering Service will provide regular management information to Fostering Panel for monitoring activity, particularly in relation to outcomes of foster carer annual reviews and the range and type of carers available to the authority and the placements made.

3. Membership of the Central List

3.1	Key principles
	All panel recommendations will be made with the welfare of the child/young person being paramount; All members of the Central List will be recruited through an open, transparent and safe process; Panel meetings will be conducted through panel members adherence to the 'Panel Protocol'; Central List members will be expected to make every effort to attend panel training; Panel, through the Chair will be expected to contribute to the provision of the Annual Report to the Director of Children's Services; All members of the Central List will be expected to work within an anti-discriminatory practice framework and be prepared to actively share differing views; Central List members will familiarise themselves with the relevant agency policies e.g. Safeguarding, the Smoking policy; Central List members will commit to attend a minimum of 75% of panel meetings per year; Central List members will participate in the annual appraisal process and share any emergent issues. If matters of concern arise, to do with any aspect of the panel process at any time, it is expected that these will be raised through the Chair and/or Panel Adviser.
3.2	Diversity Statement
	Children's Specialist Services (CSS) Fostering Service, are committed to recruiting a diverse membership to the Central List and one reflecting the community we serve. When recruiting new panel members we will ensure a mix of gender representation, including single, disabled, and gay members wherever possible, and members from a black and minority ethnic background. The fostering service is committed to offering Anti Discriminatory Practice training and refresher training for all members of the Central List.

4. Recruitment of Central List Members

4.1	To facilitate the recruitment of a diverse membership, links are made with neighbouring local authorities, voluntary groups, and the Dudley Foster Care Association (DFCA). Applications for membership of the Central List will also be encouraged through internal and external recruitment mechanisms and occasionally through personal recommendation. It is recognised however that over-reliance on personal recommendation could potentially narrow the diversity of panel members and is treated with caution.
4.2	There is a clear and transparent recruitment process to Fostering Panel's Central List from which Fostering Panels will be constituted. All applicants will be interviewed and selected against clearly stated criteria in the form of a role profile outlining the responsibilities of members of the Central List and the skills required to undertake the task. Interviews will be undertaken and conducted by the Fostering Panel Adviser and Panel Chair wherever possible.
4.3	To ensure consistency and the cohesiveness of Fostering Panel there will be a 'core' group of panel members who will commit to undertake attendance at the 12 main Panel meetings per year. Any additional scheduled meetings required to manage the volume of work in any particular month will comprise of additional membership drawn from the Central List whilst ensuring that the minimum regulatory requirements are fulfilled. On occasion these additional members may well be called upon to attend the main Fostering Panel.
4.4	All members of the Central List,, in accordance with the regulations and the NMS, will undergo an enhanced [CRB] check specifically for their role as member of the Central List of Panel members, prior to appointment, which will be reviewed thereafter every three years2. No member can take up office (attend panel) prior to receipt of the CRB disclosure. All records will be kept in line with CRB requirements and in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
4.5	Following successful recruitment, all members of the Central List will undergo induction (Appendix 1: Induction Training) to their role and any training needs will be identified from the outset.

²This will apply even if the person has a current CRB.

5. Continuing Professional Development of Central List Members

5.1

Dudley's Fostering Service is committed to delivering and promoting an excellent fostering service and the effective discharge of panel's responsibilities and duties is recognised as being a critical component of outstanding fostering provision. To this end, an annual appraisal will be undertaken with individual panel members conducted by the Chair and Panel Adviser (Appendix 2: Appraisal of Fostering Panel Members and Appendix 2a: Fostering Panel Member Appraisal Form). This is not a legislative requirement but is an opportunity for members of the Central List to give feedback about their experience of participating in panel, the functioning of panel, required training and any emergent issues or concerns they may have and suggestions for improvement. In addition, the annual review allows the Central List member to identify any further training they may require in order to carry out their role as panel member. The Fostering Panel Chair will have an annual appraisal conducted by the Agency Decision Maker (Appendix 3: Appraisal of Fostering Panel Chair and Appendix 3a: Fostering Panel Chair Appraisal Form)

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