Panel Member

At least 15 days per year - plus training and additional events. £200 per Panel Meeting.

Are you an experienced panel member with a care experienced background or a social work background? Do you want to use your expertise and passion to benefit children and young people currently in care? TACT is currently seeking an experienced panel member with a care experienced background or a registered social worker to join our Fostering Panel in Scotland.

TACT is the UK’s largest fostering charity and has been providing loving families for vulnerable children and young people across the country for over 30 years. Our reputation and growth rests upon our strength in providing successful placements. As a charity, we do not have shareholders who receive profits - we invest all of our surplus income into service, staff, carers, and children’s development.

We are looking for an experienced panel member who has experience of being looked after in a foster family or residential care, or a registered social worker. The successful applicants must be IT literate, as documentation is shared at online meetings on a monthly basis. The Panel meets using Microsoft Teams on the second Tuesday of each month, but occasionally additional meetings may also be scheduled, depending on business needs.

The successful candidate may need to travel to attend an annual panel business day in person and other occasional meetings and training. In line with our values, we expect fostering panel members to ensure that all decisions are made with regard to the interest of 'children in care', foster carers, and the community in which they live. We welcome candidates who are passionate about the success of fostering services and the outcomes for our children and young people.

Successful candidates will be responsible for the following Fostering Panel Member duties:

• Reading the meeting documents carefully before the meeting and to attend the meeting prepared to raise issues and to contribute to the panel discussion.
• Participating in the making of recommendations on each case, drawing on both personal and professional knowledge and experience.
• To attend at least 75 per cent of meetings of the panel.
• To be prepared to attend additional panels, if possible, if requested.
• To participate, with other panel members, in advising on policy and procedural matters as required.
• To address diversity issues and promote anti-discriminatory practice.
• To safeguard the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions.
• To participate in panel induction and in panel training, which will be at least one day per year.
• To participate constructively in the annual review of their panel membership, if this is an agency requirement.

A Standard DBS check clearance is required for this role. This check will be undertaken by TACT on your behalf. You will also be required to have professional membership of a relevant body if you are a social worker.

Closing Date: Midnight on Tuesday 17th June 2025. Interview Date: Friday 4th July 2025. TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believe that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies. TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.