Jobs

Are you passionate about the positive difference you can make for children and young people by being part of the adoption panel?  

Are you looking for a way to use your experience at a senior level working with children and young people, and of chairing complex meetings with a range of stakeholders?

You would ideally have a social work qualification and at least three years post qualification experience, although consideration would be given to applicants who are not social work qualified and registered with relevant experience.

We are looking for 2 Adoption Panel Vice Chairs to help us continue to improve outcomes for Children in our Care.
 
This could be the right opportunity for you!
 
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
As panel chair you will:

• Be responsible for ensuring our Adoption Panel is an inclusive, anti-discriminatory forum which promotes sound and responsible decision making with children at its heart. 
• Provide leadership to the Adoption Panel ensuring an effective Panel which provides robust recommendations to the Agency Decision Maker.
• Support the development of our Adoption Service through strong links to the Panel Advisor, Adoption Management Team and the Agency Decision Maker.

 
Panels are held fortnightly, and the ask would be attendance at least once per month. A fee of £450 is paid per Panel meeting when covering as chairperson.
 
For more information please see the attached job description.

WHAT WILL I NEED?
 
To be an Adoption Panel Vice Chair you should: 

• Be passionate about the positive difference adoption can make for our children and young people.
• Have a commitment to keeping children within their own family or community where this is possible and to maintaining contact between children living in adoptive families and their birth families where this appears to be in the child’s best interests.
• Have a commitment to adoption as a way of meeting a child’s needs, where this appears to be in the child’s best interests.
• Have experience, either professionally or personally or both, of children being cared for away from their birth family.
• Have experience at a senior level in a setting related to child development and/or working with vulnerable young people.
•  Have experience of chairing complex meetings with a range of stakeholders.
• Have a sound understanding of Adoption Panel processes and the legislative landscape within which the panel operates. 
• Ideally, you will also hold a qualification in Social Work and be registered with Social Work England.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?
We encourage you to contact Lesley Baldry, Panel Chair on lesley.baldry2@durham.gov.uk
Or Claire Grady, Panel Advisor on Claire.Grady@durham.gov.uk
 
HOW DO I APPLY?
When you are ready to apply please send your CV to Dianne Main, panel administrator Diane.Main@durham.gov.uk with a brief covering e-mail explaining your interest in the role
If your application is successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
 

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Company: Durham County Council

Salary: £450 per panel meeting

Location: Spennymoor, Durham

Sector: Education

Job Role: Teaching Assistant