The Assessment Process

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On completion of the assessment, a panel meeting will be convened to consider approval and a recommendation will be made. Panel is a formal process, but we will ensure potential carers are welcomed and put at ease. A panel book will be available in advance or on the day for applicants to familiarise themselves with the process and also our panel members.

Our Panel Chairperson is experienced in fostering, he has chaired many fostering panels over a number of years. Having spent many years as a primary headteacher in the local area he brings a wealth of experience to the role. He will ensure the Panel runs smoothly, as well as putting prospective foster carers at their ease.

Panel will be made up of members with a diverse range of personal experiences and professional backgrounds. The panel chair will ensure all panel members are supported in sharing their views and will support the panel in coming to a recommendation.

All panel members will receive an annual appraisal and offered training.

Following panel, the recommendation alongside panel minutes will be sent to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) who will either approve the applicant or not. If the applicant is not approved, they will have 28 days to appeal to the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM).

Once approved, new foster carers will be allocated one of our supervising social workers and a plan for training will be agreed. Foster carers are required to complete their Training and Development Standards (TDS) Workbook with the support of their supervising social worker, within the first twelve months. Alongside this they will also complete training in; Attachment, De-escalation, Safeguarding, Secure Base in Fostering and First Aid.