Panel Chair and Vice Chair for Adoption North Joint Adoption Panel

Job Summary To chair Adoption Panel meetings, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the Panel operates in accordance with Regulations and Guidance and the policies and procedures of the Agency. To prepare for Panel meetings, reading Panel papers carefully, identifying key issues and alerting the Agency Advisor if necessary to ensure, as far as possible, that the case is adequate for submission to Panel. To facilitate the active participate of all Panel members in contributing to the Panels consideration of cases and to the making of clear and well-evidenced recommendations with the reasons for these. To ensure that all those attending Panel are treated with respect and courtesy. To address diversity issues and to promote anti-discriminatory practice at all times. To ensure that clear and accurate minutes are written, which record and serious reservations which Panel members may have, and to be involved in checking and agreeing the minutes with other Panel members before
they are sent to the Agency Decision Maker. To liaise with the Agency Decision Maker and with other senior managers as required. To ensure, with the Agency Advisor, that senior managers are aware of issues of concern, in relation both to individual cases and to more general matters. To be involved, as appropriate, in the recruitment and appointment of central list and Panel members and in any consideration about terminating the appointment of a Panel member. To review, with the Agency Advisor, the performance of central list and Panel members as the need arises, and at least annually. To assist in developing, promoting and monitoring policies and procedures and high standards of work in adoption and permanence services in the Agency. To assist in planning training events for members and to participate in this at least one day per year. To safeguard the confidentiality of all Panel papers and Panel discussions. To be involved in: deciding whether a case is adequate for submission to
Panel OFFICIAL deciding on the attendance of observers at Panel deciding on the participation of a Panel member who declares an interest in a case deciding when an extra Panel meeting may be necessary The chair will be involved in preparing an annual report on the Joint Panels work. Currently all the panels are run virtually via Microsoft Teams with all paperwork sent electronically, so access to a computer or laptop devise is essential. If in the future the North panel was to be held via a face-to-face meeting, this would be at the Local Authority City of York Offices.