Torbay Council
Independent Panel Member (Fostering)
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Independent Panel Member (Fostering)
Application Deadline: 10 July 2026 Location: Torbay Council Department: Children’s Services Employment Type: Zero Hours Reporting To: Team Manager Compensation: £90–£180/day
Independent Panel Member (Fostering)
About the Role
We are seeking applications from Independent Panel Members with personal experience of fostering for the Torbay Fostering Panel.
Eligibility:
Eligible applicants include:
- Current/former foster carers
- Adults who were part of a fostering household
- Individuals who were themselves fostered
- Birth parents of children who were previously fostered
- Professionals with relevant experience working with children in care
Note: Currently approved Torbay foster carers and their household members cannot apply.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Monthly Panel Meeting (typically full-day commitments; occasional half-day meetings).
- Pre-reading of complex and potentially distressing case documents (~1 full day’s equivalent per month).
- Attendance at mandatory annual training days.
- Participation in annual appraisals.
- Trained Regulated Activity consideration (banded payments of £90 per half-day and £180 per full-day), plus reimbursement of travel costs.
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Location
- Meetings are scheduled annually in advance with no requirement to attend all sessions, though regular presence is expected.
- Flexibility and availability are key.
Employment Requirements:
- Enhanced DBS check with Barred List verification (spent/unsent convictions and cautions, police checks, and Barred List status).
- Confident oral fluency in English (all verbal tasks must be delivered with simplicity and clarity).
- Bias recognition: Priority encouraged for men to address underrepresentation.
Essential Skills:
- Active listening and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex or distressing case files.
- Decision-making capability based on information presented.
- Capacity to clearly present and defend panel judgments.
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Essential Knowledge:
- Sensitivity to children’s experiences of separation and loss.
- Familiarity with democratic family systems or willingness to learn.
- Professional insight into the role of fostering panels.
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- Personal/firsthand involvement with fostering, required to ensure perceived fairness.
- Professional-casework experience refreshing.
Next Steps:
For further details, visit Torbay Council Careers Page.
Interviews: Week commencing 20 July 2026.
Deadlines may move; submit applications early.
Contact: Luminita Burtic (luminita.burtic@torbay.gov.uk | +44 7824 301132) for queries.
Note: This role is not visa-sponsored.
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