How the Fostering Panel Runs
Angus Adoption and Permanence Panel and Angus Foster Panel are managed and co-ordinated by the Service Manager (Accommodation and Aftercare) who offers consultancy to social workers, advises the panel members on policy and procedural issues and also sits as a panel member.
The panel makes its recommendation on the basis of reports circulated in advance of the meeting and through discussion with those invited to attend. The reports include those written by the social worker and other professionals involved in the case. The placement and post placement reports completed by foster carers will also be referred to by the panel. Panel members place considerable importance on the contribution that foster carers make to the process.
Foster carers will be invited to attend panels considering plans for children in their care and to any review of their own approval as carers. The other people attending the panel will vary depending on the situation under discussion. Where permanence plans for children are being considered the panel will want to speak to child's social worker, senior social worker, any other professional who has a central role in work with the child, the parent and possibly the child themselves. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the panel may ask to speak to contributors separately rather than have everyone in the meeting at the same time. Panel's considering the approval or review of foster carers will generally only involve the carers, their link worker and the senior social worker from the family placement team.
You will be informed of the recommendation of the Fostering Panel within 24 hours of the Panel. The final decision will be made by the agency decision maker and you will be informed of this decision in writing within 21 days. Carers will generally be contacted by their link worker as soon as the decision of the agency decision maker is known.
» Panels Considering the Approval of Prospective Foster Carers