Independent Foster Panel Chair

Hull City Council is on an exciting and ambitious journey to transform services for children and young people, and we want you to be part of it. At the heart of everything we do is a deep commitment to children, young people and families. We are proud to have created a culture that prioritises high-quality support, strong relationships, and positive, lasting outcomes.

A rare opportunity has arisen for an Independent Fostering Panel Chair to join our established, robust and friendly Fostering Panel, due to retirement. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced social worker with a strong background in fostering to join an Ofsted-rated “Good” local authority. You will play a key role in maintaining the high standards of our fostering panel, while supporting its ongoing development and continuous improvement.

In May 2026, Ofsted rated Hull Children’s Services as Good overall, with a number of Outstanding features, including Outstanding for the impact of leaders on social work practice. This reflects the strength of our leadership, our workforce, and our relentless focus on improving the lives of children.

Our Fostering Service was recognised by Ofsted as strong and effective, where:

• Children receive consistently high-quality, nurturing care.
• Foster carers are well-trained, well-supported, and increasingly confident.
• Children benefit from stable, secure relationships that promote their safety, wellbeing and development.

The successful candidate will chair approximately one to two panels per month, ensuring that panel business is conducted effectively, professionally and in line with fostering regulations and best practice.

• Commitment: 1-2 panels per month
• Rate: £400 per panel

Job Description:

• To chair Panel meetings, ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the Panel operates in accordance with regulations and the policies and procedures of the agency.
• To prepare for Panel meetings, reading Panel papers carefully, identifying key issues and alerting the Panel Team Co-ordinator / Panel Advisor if necessary to ensure, as far as possible, the case is adequate for submission to Panel.
• To facilitate the active participation of all Panel members in contributing to the Panel’s 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 practices at all times.
• To ensure that clear and accurate minutes are written, which record any serious reservations which Panel members may have, and to be involved in checking and agreeing draft 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, along with the Panel Advisor, that senior managers are aware of issues of concern, in relation both to individual cases and to more general matters.
• To be involved in the recruitment and appointment of Central List and Panel members and in any consideration about terminating the appointment of a member.
• To review, possibly with the Panel 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 fostering services in the agency.
• To assist in planning training for Panel 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.
• To decide on the attendance of observers at Panel.
• To decide on the participation of a Panel member who declares an interest in a case.
• To decide when an extra Panel is necessary.
• To prepare an annual report on the Panel’s work.

Who can apply?

Candidates will need a sound knowledge of fostering. This needs to include an understanding of permanency planning for children, the impact of trauma and loss and the life-long nature of Fostering. You will need to understand the recruitment and assessment of foster carers. A working knowledge of relevant legal frameworks, national standards and regulations is required. You will also need to demonstrate the excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to deal with sensitive situations and be able to analyse and explain complex information. You will require excellent interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills and can identify key issues, problems and solutions and have some experience of chairing complex meetings.

How to apply:

For an informal chat please contact: Helen Hitchin, Fostering Panel Team Co-ordinator Tel: 01482 615724 Helen.hitchin@hullcc.gov.uk

Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV and supporting statement to helen.hitchin@hullcc.gov.uk

Closing date: 20th July 2026

Please note, this is an Office Holder position and therefore not subject to Hull City Council Terms and Conditions of employment.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description. We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.