Panel Member

At least 15 days per year - plus training and additional events

£200 per Panel Meeting 

Are you a care experienced adult, social worker or education professional? Do you want to use your expertise and passion to benefit children and young people currently in care? We are currently recruiting care experienced adults, social workers and education professionals  to our South West Fostering Panel in the following area: Bristol, Bath & NES, Somerset, North Somerset, Wiltshire, Swindon, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire.

TACT is the UK’s largest fostering charity and has been providing loving families for vulnerable children and young people across the country for over 25 years. Our reputation and growth rests upon our strength in providing successful placements. As a charity, we do not have shareholders who receive profits - we invest all of our surplus income into service, staff, carers, and children’s development.

Our vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people - find out more about our values here: https://www.tactcare.org.uk/about-us/

We are currently looking for panel members to be part of our Fostering Panel in our South West area. Specifically, we are looking for panel members with a social work background, education professional or adults who are  care experienced. Successful applicants must  be IT literate, as documentation is shared at online meetings on a monthly basis. The Panel meets using Microsoft Teams on the third Friday each month but occasionally additional meetings may also be scheduled, depending on business needs.  The successful candidate will also be invited to attend our excellent training sessions which are held twice a year, at no cost to panel members.

In line with our values, we expect fostering panel members to ensure that all decisions are made with regard to the interest of 'children in care', foster carers, and the community in which they live. We welcome candidates who are passionate about the success of fostering services and the outcomes for our children and young people. Successful candidates will be responsible for the following Fostering Panel Member duties: - 

• Reading the meeting documents carefully before the meeting and to attend the meeting prepared to raise issues and to contribute to the panel discussion.
• Participating in the making of a recommendations, on each case, drawing on both personal and professional knowledge and experience.
• To attend at least 75 per cent of meetings of the panel.
• To be prepared to attend additional panels if possible, if requested.
• To participate, with other panel members, in advising on policy and procedural matters as required.
• To address diversity issues and promote anti-discriminatory practice.
• To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions.
• To participate in panel induction and in panel training, which will be at least one day per year.
• To participate constructively in the annual review of their panel membership, if this is an agency requirement.

A Standard DBS check clearance is required for these roles.  This check will be undertaken by TACT on your behalf.  You will also be required to have professional membership of a relevant body if you are currently a practicing social worker or similarly qualified professional. 

Closing Date : Midnight on Monday 8th August 2022
Interview Date: Tuesday 16th August 2022

TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believe that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.