About the Team:
Warwickshire’s Fostering Panel is set within our Fostering and Kinship Service. The fostering panel sits 3-4 times a month on Tuesday. This is a virtual panel.
As our panel adviser you will join an established panel and will have robust business support to enable the smooth functioning of the panel. You will also lead a team of 2 dedicated and experienced Fostering Reviewing Officers.
Why It's a Great Place to Work
Supportive Environment: Our team is known for its nurturing and supportive management. You'll be part of a team that values collaboration and mutual support, ensuring you have the resources and guidance needed to excel in your role.
Professional Development: There are ample opportunities for career growth and professional development. The team encourages innovation and continuous learning, helping you expand your skills and knowledge in management and social work.
Impactful Work: Working in the Fostering and Kinship Team allows you to make a real difference in the lives of children and families. You'll be directly involved in shaping children's futures.
Recognition and Achievement: The fostering team has received a 'Good' rating from Ofsted, reflecting the high standards and quality of care provided. Being part of a team with such recognition is both rewarding and motivating.
Flexible Working Arrangements: The role offers partial home working and flexible working arrangements, allowing you to maintain a healthy work-life balance, with the commitment of 2 days working from the office.
Comprehensive Support: The team has access to a commissioned Psychology Service who offer consultations to staff and foster carers.
Community and Collaboration: The Fostering Panel advisor works closely with other teams within children and families, fostering a sense of community and collaboration. This integrated approach is essential to good practice.
Now is an exciting time to be a part of our team as Warwickshire has been chosen as one of the seven areas to deliver the Families First for Children Pathfinder Programme. Join us to help shape and influence the future of children's social care together. Find out why we are good Ofsted.
If you want to build strong relationships and connections with families, join Warwickshire’s Children and Families service. Click here to find out more about Warwickshire County Council’s Children and Families Service.
Our Offer to you includes:
- Supportive managers who provide recognition and a robust supervision policy focussed on wellbeing and workload.
- Full reimbursement of Social Work England annual fee.
- A Volunteering & Wellbeing Day in addition to generous annual leave and an additional day at Christmas
- We also offer a Refer a Friend package if you're talking about a return to us with an ex-colleague/friend.
About the Role:
As our Fostering Panel Advisor, you’ll play a pivotal role in leading and evolving our fostering panel's work. Partnering with the Panel Chair and the Service Manager, you’ll have the chance to influence fostering at Warwickshire County Council. This is more than a job—it’s your opportunity to shape best practices, elevate our standards, and ensure that every child we support finds the best possible home.
Your role will involve:
- Providing expert social work advice to the fostering panel.
- Supporting panel chairs with decision-making.
- Ensuring procedures are up-to-date and compliant with legislative and policy requirements.
- Overseeing the recruitment, induction, and appraisal of panel members.
- Collaborating with panel business support and chairs to maintain accurate records.
- Organising training days and ensuring high-quality panel outcomes.
- Keeping panels informed about key legislative and practice changes.
- Providing quarterly reports to senior leadership.
- Supervision and support of 2 part time Fostering Reviewing Officers
In this strategic role, you’ll be supported with continuous development opportunities, enabling you to grow and advance your career while making a genuine difference in our community.
Click here to download our Why work for Us Brochure
Key Requirements:
We’re looking for a passionate advocate for children and fostering who’s ready to lead with vision and expertise. You’ll be a catalyst for change, bringing your knowledge and skills to empower our fostering team to excel.
You should have:
- Expert knowledge of Fostering Regulations, Legislation, and National Minimum Standards, paired with a keen eye for detail.
- A track record of success in guiding social care practices, with proven experience in providing clear, confident advice and leadership.
- A talent for inspiring others: You’re a communicator who can motivate, influence, and engage everyone from panel members to social workers.
- A growth mindset: You’re always looking for ways to innovate and bring new ideas to the table, driven by the desire to see children and young people succeed.
- The ability to make strategic decisions that have a tangible impact on the lives of children and families across Southwark.
Applicants for the role will need a professional Social Work qualification and Social Work England Registration.
- Social Work Qualification and SWE registered (essential)
- Approved Enhanced DBS Children Workforce (essential)
- Management and/or supervisory experience (preferable)
- Experience in working with foster carers (essential)
If you want to build strong relationships and connections with families, join Warwickshire’s Children and Families service.
For further information please see the Job Description and Person Specification.
Working for Warwickshire – This is the difference you make:
Warwickshire County Council is a place where everyone feels valued, included, safe, supported, and welcome. Our people are at the heart of this vision, could you be one of them!
At Warwickshire County Council we are committed to ensuring Warwickshire’s economy is vibrant and supported by the right jobs, training, skills and infrastructure. Our people vision for Warwickshire County Council is a great place to work where diverse and talented people are enabled to be their best.
Your future matters to us, we provide a generous pension scheme which includes an employer contribution rate of typically around 19 percent per month, to help support your financial security during retirement. The scheme also offers a valuable package of benefits for members and their dependants. To find out more please visit: Warwickshire Pension Fund homepage – Warwickshire Pension Fund.
The benefits we offer include agile working, a valuable part of the pay and reward package for employees working in local government, generous annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays and an additional day at Christmas, and access to Vivup benefits and discounts platform.
Click here to view the benefits at Warwickshire County Council.
Additional Information:
Warwickshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Please be advised successful applicants will be subject to a range of pre-engagement checks, including a relevant Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In accordance with the DBS code of practice and our own policy, should an individual have a declared criminal offence an individual assessment will be completed. Warwickshire County Council adheres to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The Fluency Duty is outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. The Fluency Duty for this role is Required. You must be able to speak and provide advice in accurate spoken English to the public.
To discuss the role please contact Jo Smith - josmith@warwickshire.gov.uk
Closing Date: 8th May 2025
Interview Date: 19th May 2025
Should you require application forms in an alternative format / language or any adjustments to be made throughout the application process or upon appointment, please contact hrandpayroll@warwickshire.gov.uk and we will make every effort to meet your specific requirements.
Warwickshire County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and is keen to address areas of under representation in its workforce. See?more
