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Introduction to Tameside Fostering Panel

Home -> Community and living -> Children and family care -> Fostering
 

Introduction to Tameside Fostering Panel

What is the role of Tameside Fostering Panel?

Tameside’s Fostering Panel has several important functions, these are:

  • To decide whether applicants are suitable for approval as foster carers.
  • To make future changes to foster carers approval.
  • To discuss any serious concerns about a foster carers practice.
  • To decide on termination of approval.

When and where does the Panel meet?

The Panel meets at:

Denton Centre
Acre Street
Denton
M34 2BW

Usually on a Thursday morning, fortnightly, from 9.30am - 2.00pm.

Who sits on the Fostering Panel?

Panel members include an Independent Chair Person. They are from different agencies. They include a foster carer and representatives from Children, Learning & Economic Services and Health.

This group of people bring a balance of knowledge, skill, objectivity and expertise in order to inform the recommendations they make to ensure the welfare and safety of foster children is promoted and safeguarded.

Agency Members

Colleen Murphy PhotographColleen Murphy

Colleen Murphy is the Independent Chair of the Fostering Panel. She is an Independent Social Work Consultant with extensive knowledge and professional experience of social work practice and children’s services.

Photograph of Christine ClynchChristine Clynch

Christine Clynch is the Vice Chair of the Fostering Panel. Christine currently manages an Independent Fostering Agency and has previously worked in Local Authority's and the voluntary sector covering Fostering.

Photograph of Julian SacofskyJulian Sacofsky

Julian Sacofsky qualified as a social worker in 1983 and he is currently employed as a Family Group Conference Coordinator for Tameside MBC.

Photograph of Sue PhillipsSue Phillips

Sue is a Social Worker on the Fostering Team and has been involved with children and families since 1994 in various settings.

Photograph of Christine ThorntonChristine Thornton

Christine Thornton is the Assistant Team Manager for the Fostering Team. Christine qualified as a Social Worker in 2001 but has been involved in social care for 25 years.

Tameside Member

Photo of Councillor Margaret DownsCouncillor Margaret Downs

Councillor Margaret Downs is a Panel Member in her capacity as a Tameside Councillor with experience, knowledge and awareness of children’s services and local issues.

Independent Members

Photograph of Louise ColreinLouise Colrein

Louise Colrein is a children's physiotherapist and Team Leader for the Integrated Service for Children with Additional Needs in Tameside.

Photograph of John InceJohn Ince

John Ince is an Independent member of the Fostering Panel. John is a foster carer and brings to the Panel the perspective of the child and carer.

Photo of Sue MurfittSue Murfitt

Sue Murfitt is an Independent Member of the Fostering Panel, she currently works as the Deputy manager of an Independent Children’s Home. Sue is also care experienced.

Medical Advisor

Photo of Dr Aurangzeb KhanDr Aurangzeb Khan

Dr Aurangzeb Khan is Tameside’s Medical Advisor. He is a Consultant Paediatrician with extensive expertise of offering medical advice in respect of applicants and children. Dr Khan conducts all medicals in relation to children who are looked after, placed for adoption and prepares medical reports for all prospective foster carers and adopters.

Head of Service

Photograph of Joy DunbavinJoy Dunbavin

Joy Dunbavin is the Head of Service for Looked After Children's Resources. She qualified as a social worker 26 years ago and has a role in ensuring quality of service to potential foster carer applicants and looked after children.

Panel Administrator

Photograph of Gemma HughesGemma Hughes

Gemma Hughes is the Fostering Panel Administrator, she attends all the meetings, arranges the agenda and takes minutes. Gemma has worked for Tameside MBC since 2008.

Agency Advisor

Photograph of Anisa PatelAnisa Patel

Anisa Patel is the Fostering Panel Adviser, he role is to advise the Panel in regulation and practice matters. She is also the Team Manager of the Fostering Service.

Before the Panel

Copies of all relevant reports and other documents to do with your application are forwarded to the Panel Members so that they can read them before the Panel meeting.

Can You Attend the Panel?

Yes. Both Social Workers and applicants can attend the Panel together. The Panel likes you to be as fully involved as possible and welcomes the opportunity to meet you. Many applicants find it useful to attend Panel to answer any questions that arise.

What Happens at Panel?

You will be invited into the Panel and introduced to Panel members. Sometimes the worker is invited into the Panel first, if a particular clarification is required regarding something in their report, otherwise the applicant and worker are invited in together. The Chair will explain how the Panel will be conducted.

There will be questions and a discussion of the information contained in your assessment. At the close of the discussion, the Chair will ask you and your Social Worker to return to the waiting area whilst the Panel reaches their recommendation in relation to your approval. The Panel Chair and Panel Advisor will notify you personally of the Panel’s recommendation on the day.

After the Panel

A copy of the Panel minutes are forwarded along with the Panels recommendations to the Agency Decision Maker. It is this person who will make the final decision whether you become approved as a Foster Carer or not.

Decision to Approve

You will receive a letter confirming their decision with regards to your approval status as a Foster Carer for Tameside MBC. If you are approved the letter will confirm the status of your approval for example the age group and the number of children you can foster. The letter will include a Tameside Foster Care Agreement for you to sign.

Recommendation Not to Approve

It is unusual for Panel to make a recommendation not to approve an applicant because any issues or concerns that would lead to a recommendation not to approve are usually resolved prior to the application being presented.

Occasionally the Panel may decide to defer making a Recommendation to a later Panel. This is likely to be because the Panel requires further information in order to reach a recommendation.

Should the  recommendation be that you are not approved as a foster carer, you will be informed of the Agency Decision maker’s decision and given the reasons why.

You will be able to write to the Agency Decision Maker within 28 days to make an appeal and have your application reviewed, your Assessing Social Worker will explain the appeals procedure to you. Alternatively, you are able to make an application for the decision to be reviewed by the Independent Review Mechanism. Your worker can supply details of the procedure or, you can find out more from www.baaf.org.uk Link to External Website.

Your Views

Your views are welcome about attending Panel and your feedback will assist us in helping to make the meeting useful. In order to ensure we take account of your views please completed the Fostering panel Questionnaire, which will be sent to you after the Panel meeting.

Complaints and Compliments

Tameside has a complaints procedure should things go wrong. A leaflet is available from all staff and from your Social Worker, which gives full details of the procedure and a form to complete should you wish to make a complaint.

Page last updated: 3 January 2012
Tameside MBC