Panel Chair

Salary Scale: £600 per session
Please note this fee includes attendance at panel training, annual appraisals of panel members, completion of the annual report and attendance of two meetings per year with the Agency Decision Maker and Senior Leaders.

About the Role:

We are looking for an experienced and values-driven Independent Panel Chair to join Team Fostering and play a key role in ensuring that children receive safe, nurturing and high-quality foster care. The Fostering Panel is central to maintaining high standards and robust decision-making across the agency, helping to ensure that recommendations regarding foster carers are balanced, evidence based and always focused on the welfare and best interests of children and young people.

As Independent Panel Chair, you will provide independent, impartial and effective leadership of fostering panel meetings. You will support panel members to consider complex information, facilitate full and constructive discussion, and ensure that clear and well-evidenced recommendations are made in accordance with fostering legislation, regulations, statutory guidance and Team Fostering policies.

The role also plays an important part in supporting the development of Panel Members maintaining high standards of governance and quality assurance, and promoting safeguarding, equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice throughout all aspects of Panel activity. Some travel may be required across Team Fostering’s regions, together with attendance at panel meetings, training and agency events as required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Chairing fostering panel meetings and ensuring they are effective, inclusive and compliant with legislation, statutory guidance and agency procedures.
• Reading and analysing complex panel papers, identifying key issues and supporting robust and defensible recommendations.
• Facilitating the active participation of all Panel Members and ensuring balanced discussion and decision-making.
• Promoting safeguarding, equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice at all times.
• Ensuring all individuals attending Panel are treated with respect, fairness and courtesy
• Working with the Senior Panel Administrator to ensure clear, accurate and timely panel minutes.
• Escalating concerns to senior managers where appropriate and ensuring issues of risk, quality or practice are addressed.
• Supporting the recruitment, induction, appraisal and ongoing development of Panel Members.
• Assisting in the planning and delivery of Panel Member training and development opportunities.
• Working collaboratively with the Agency Decision Maker, Panel Adviser and senior managers to support continuous improvement and high standards of fostering practice.

The Successful Candidate: 

We are looking for an experienced professional who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience, either professionally or personally, of fostering, children in care or children being cared for away from their birth family.
• A sound understanding of fostering processes, fostering legislation, safeguarding, regulatory frameworks and panel functions.
• Experience of chairing complex meetings and leading balanced, evidence-based discussions.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to consider and triangulate large amounts of information to support safe decision-making.
• Excellent communication, listening, leadership and negotiation skills.
• The confidence to make independent judgements and provide constructive challenge where required.
• The ability to work effectively with a multi-disciplinary group of professionals and independent members.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.
• A commitment to continuous professional development and supporting the development of others.
• Previous experience of delivering training, working in a fostering setting or chairing a Fostering Panel or other complex childcare meetings would be an advantage.

About Team Fostering: 

Team Fostering is an ethical not for profit fostering agency with a strong reputation and track record for providing high quality, fostering placements for looked after children. We pride ourselves on our values and our commitment to making positive changes for children and young people. Our North East Service was graded as Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2025.

Team Fostering are wholly committed to our ongoing investment in professional training and development, health and wellbeing for our staff. We are immensely proud of our recognition as a Real Living Wage Foundation Employer, an Investors in People Employer which we have held since 2006, our accreditation as a Mindful Employer and the achievement of our Better Health Award at Continuing Excellence level.

Team Fostering is an equal opportunity and Disability Confident Committed employer that is committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging at work. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.

Team Fostering strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented within the agency.

If you are looking to make a lasting difference within an Outstanding agency, we would love to hear from you.  For an informal chat about the post please call Team Fostering on 0191 2576806 or contact Stafford Devine, Director of Quality Assurance, via email at Stafford.Devine@teamfostering.co.uk or telephone on 07849641739.

Please note Team Fostering does not accept CVs. Please complete an Application Form and an Equal Opportunities Form and then email your Application to HR@teamfostering.co.uk by 4pm on Mon 21 Sep 2026. 

This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Closing date: 4pm on Monday 14th September 2026
Shortlisting: week commencing 21st September 2026
Interviews: Monday 28th September 2026

Please note if you are shortlisted for interview, we will contact you via the email you have provided. Please ensure you check your emails including your junk folder regularly.

No agencies please.