Job Description

This role is with Adopt South, the partnership Regional Adoption Agency for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton local authorities, with the lead authority Hampshire County Council as the employer.

Adopt South's Panels are made up of a diverse range of people who have personal or professional experience relevant to adoption and we are keen to continue growing the diversity of our panels and would like to hear from those from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Role Overview:

Would you like to make a real difference in transforming the lives of children with a plan for adoption? We are seeking to appoint casual Independent Members for Adopt South's Adoption Panels.

Our panels consider whether prospective adopters are suitable to adopt and whether children should be matched with prospective adopters. The panels make recommendations to the Adopt South's Agency Decision Maker (ADM).

We have strong core values, and our panels offer independent scrutiny and quality assurance to the adoption agency and our partner local authorities, with a focus on meeting the needs of children who cannot live with their birth family.

We hold panels on behalf of our partnership local authorities, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. If you have worked for any of these authorities, 12 months must have passed before you can be considered an Independent Panel Member.

Essential skills and experience:

We are looking to recruit panel members from a wide variety of backgrounds including professionals with a background in health, education and social care. Experience either professionally or personally, or both, of the journey of a child in care is essential. Understanding of the adoption and/or looked after experience for children, effects of separation, loss and developmental trauma on children is important. Alongside, an awareness of the richness of different kinds of families and their potential for meeting children's needs.

Role Responsibilities:

1. To read the circulated papers carefully before the panel meeting and to attend the meeting prepared to raise issues and to contribute to the panel discussion.
2. To commit to attending at least one panel per month.
3. To prepare 2 pre panel questions per case within given timeframes.
4. To take responsibility for participating in the making of a recommendation for each case, drawing on professional knowledge and experience.
5. To attend meetings of the panels as specified on your member agreement with the agency.
6. To be prepared to attend additional panels if you are reasonably able to.
7. To subscribe to Adopt South's core values of equality and fairness.
8. To promote diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
9. To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions.
10. To participate in induction and training which will be a minimum of one day per year and to take responsibility for building up own knowledge of adoption.
11. To participate constructively in the annual review of your panel membership.

Working Conditions in this role may include:

• Display Screen Equipment user
• Working with Children

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, and as per safer recruitment requirements for Children's Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

About Us

Connect2Hampshire is a managed service agency owned by Hampshire County Council providing temporary, contract and interim opportunities into the Council. Our service is built on our values of ethical, trustworthy, and caring, and our profits are returned to our Local Authority shareholders.

Connect2Hampshire is a trading style of Hampshire & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Hampshire County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Hampshire is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.