What happens at fostering panel?
During the fostering application process, potential foster carers are required to have a meeting with a ‘fostering panel.’ This may either be virtually on a Zoom meeting or an in-person meeting. Within this meeting we will help you understand more about what happens at fostering panel so you know what to expect if you are beginning your fostering journey and have an upcoming panel meeting.
Who is in the fostering panel?
Beacon Fostering maintains a “central list” of panel members who are chosen to represent the community the panel serves. Some social workers who work with Beacon Fostering are included in this category, but the majority are self-sufficient adults who have knowledge and experience of fostering, have been fostered or in care themselves, or are employed in the fields of health and education or children’s social care.
What questions will I be asked by the fostering panel?
Panelists may question you regarding your evaluation, training, and future goals as a foster care provider. After reading your report, the panel is likely to ask you and your evaluating social worker some questions if they have any further queries. They are not there to interview you; rather, they are meant to clarify matters and therefore shouldn’t be many questions.
What happens after?
Following the questions, you and your assessing social worker will be asked to leave the room for a short period, or if the meeting is virtually, you will both be placed in a waiting room in order for the panel to discuss their recommendations. The panel will then deliberate and come to one of the following three decisions.
- Recommend approval – The approval terms such as age range and placement type will also be deliberated, discussed and agreed.
- Recommend not to approve – This decision will be made should the panel decise that you are un-fit to foster or not suitable for fostering
- Defer the recommendation – This decision will be made if the panel determines that more information is necessary to fully recommend your suitability for approval.
The Panel Chair, along with the Panel Adviser, will then come and inform you of the recommendation. Following this, the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) will consider that recommendation and make a formal decision as to whether you should be approved as a foster parent/s. This decision will be made as quickly as possible and will normally be communicated to 7-10 days of the panel meeting.
Are you interested in starting your fostering journey? Request a call back from a member of our recruitment team –> Request a Callback | Beacon Fostering