Address
Form of work
SalaryOne Adoption West Yorkshire is the Regional Adoption Agency for Calderdale, Bradford, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, providing high quality adoption services across the regions.
We currently require an Independent Adoption Panel Chair for 1 of our 8 monthly online panels, in addition to holiday cover for the other panel chairs. You must be able to work on a Wednesday.
You will need to have a detailed knowledge of the legal framework of adoption and child care law as well as an in depth knowledge of current adoption practice. You will need to be an excellent communicator with an ability to chair and guide complex meetings. You will need good IT skills to facilitate our online panels.
Experience in Children’s Services at a middle or senior level is essential.
The post is subject to an enhanced criminal record disclosure and 2 references.
For informal discussion about this post please contact Rhian Beynon, Service Delivery Manager on 07712216719.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Purpose: To chair the Adoption Panel of One Adoption to enable the panel to make professional recommendations concerning children and adopters.
Main Duties:
1 To act as a panel member and chair the regular meeting.
2 To read all panel papers carefully and critically and to check the panel minutes within the agreed timescales.
3 To satisfy the requirements of the One Adoption’s protocol for Adoption Panels (see attached).
4 To ensure that the panel operates within the relevant law, regulation and guidance, particularly the Children Act 1989, National Minimum Adoption and Adoption Support Standards, the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and the Adoption Agency Regulations 2005.
5 To ensure that the panel operates within the policies of the One Adoption and related procedures.
6 To facilitate the involvement of panel members, social workers, applicants, children and young people and birth family members and ensure a consensus is reached when making recommendations.
7 To ensure that the panel addresses all relevant procedural and practice issues in relation to the scope of the recommendations, namely whether a child should be placed for adoption, whether applicants are suitable adopters, whether a particular match is in the interests of the child.
8 To ensure that the panel addresses issues in relation to other matters before the panel, for example give advice provided on adoption support, contact and parental responsibility.
9 To facilitate the panel in their role of monitoring and feedback on the quality of work presented to the panel.
10 Meet regularly with Agency Decision Makers, Senior Managers and professional advisors to the panel.
11 To take responsibility in conjunction with the agency to deal with membership issues.
12 Deciding who will attend the panel in addition to panel members eg observers. Responsibility to ensure that panel is clear about the reasons for its recommendations and that these have been accurately recorded.
13 To bring to the attention of the management of One Adoption, significant practice and procedural issues which arise in individual cases and in general.
14 To keep abreast of current practice issues in adoption and family placement and seek to promote best practice within the panel and the agency.
15 To assist the Agency to identify training needs within the panel and to attend annual panel training.
16 To be available for Ofsted inspectors to discuss matters relating to the Adoption Panel as required.
Accountability:
To the Head of One Adoption and on a day to day basis to the Service Manager with a lead on Adoption Panels and the Professional Advisors of the Adoption Panels.
Other Provisions:
1 In accordance with the Adoption Agency Regulations, the appointment is for three years initially.
2 The appointment may be extended.
3 A satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
4 Receipt of two satisfactory personal references prior to the commencement
5 Curriculum Vitae or Application form.
6 Notice of three months can be given by either party.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Able to facilitate discussion and encourage involvement of all participants.
High level of oral and written communication skills.
Well developed ability to summarise issues clearly and succinctly.
Ability to scrutinise, monitor performance and challenge practice.
Ability to recognise and solve problems.
Able to stand back from his / her own viewpoint in order to ensure the effectiveness of the panel as a whole in making recommendations.
Desirable:
Negotiation skills.
Experience (essential):
Experience of middle or senior management.
In-depth experience of adoption practice.
Extensive experience of chairing complex meetings in the field of social care or health.
Experience (desirable):
Management of resources issues, policy implementation and organisational change.
Knowledge (essential):
Well developed knowledge of the roles of the various professionals and agencies in promoting the safety and welfare of children.
Good working knowledge of all relevant legislation and regulations in relation to children and adoption issues.
Sound understanding of child development.
Good general understanding of research findings in relation to adoption and outcomes for children looked after ensuring that child’s welfare are safeguarded and promoted.
Knowledge (desirable):
Working knowledge of attachment theory as applied to children who have experienced adverse life events.
Personal Characteristics:
Essential:
Strong commitment to the values underlying the Policy and protocol of One Adoption.
Clear commitment to the principles of equal opportunities and anti-oppressive practice.
Ability to challenge prejudice and assumptions of panel members.
Ability and expertise to command respect of participants in panel business, including councillors and professionals.
