Panel Advisor (Fostering and Permanence) - Fostering and Permanency Service

Posted 11th Nov, 2025
Location
Lambeth
Salary/rate
£56,436 – £59,574
Working pattern
Full-time – 35 hours per week
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
7th Dec, 2024
About the role

In Lambeth we put children and their families at the heart of our practice, and practice at the heart of all that we do. Our new Borough Plan has social justice at the centre and a clear vision for improving outcomes for our children and families. You will be joining an ambitious, passionate, and committed leadership team working at pace to create the conditions for effective social work to flourish and for all our children to receive a good service.

This role provides an exciting opportunity to support the Agency Decision Making Process and ensure statutory requirements are met whilst managing fostering panels effectively. The successful candidate will work closely with panel chairpersons and service managers to deliver high-quality fostering services. Key responsibilities include:

  • Supporting Agency Decision Making Process and quality assuring reports presented to panels as well as non-panel annual reviews
  • Providing communication and liaison between panels and the Service and briefing the Service Manager and Agency Decision Maker on Panel matters
  • Ensuring statutory requirements are met under Fostering Regulations 2011, National Minimum Standards March 2011, The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 and Children's Act 2004
  • Managing the panel administrator and ensuring that the fostering panels are appropriately administered
  • Assisting the agency, in consultation with the panel's chairperson(s), in the appointment, termination and review of members of the fostering panels

Lambeth promotes Systemic approaches to working with families and communities. By embedding systemic values in our innovative 'Children at the Heart of Practice' framework, we are inspiring, resourcing and enabling social workers to undertake impactful relationship-based practice.

For any queries about this vacancy, please contact Olaitan (Ola) Aregbesola on Tel. 020 7926 2677 or Email: OAregbesola@Lambeth.gov.uk. Click the 'Apply' button and complete an online application form explicitly evidencing in the Supporting Statement field how you meet the criteria marked with an 'A' at shortlist stage, along with uploading your CV. Please note we operate an anonymised application process - if you are uploading your CV or a personal statement, please remove your personal details and replace these with your unique candidate application number.

About you

We are looking for an experienced and Social Work qualified professional with a current SWE registration, that is able to demonstrate their knowledge and experience of working with fostering panel. You are expected to demonstrate and role model responses and decisions in the best interests of children, young people, and families by using 'role generosity' when considering service / team / practitioner remits. The ideal candidate will:

  • Be Social Work Registered with significant experience in fostering
  • Have experience of working in a statutory setting with children and making professional judgments that deliver improved outcomes
  • Demonstrate evidence of building effective relationships with children, families and other professionals
  • Possess working knowledge of national policy and developments regarding children's social care
  • Have demonstrable working knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance, standards and procedures
  • Be able to engage and develop effective professional relationships with other professionals and organisations for the benefit of individual children and foster carers
  • Have ability to assess children and families/foster carers holistically in relation to their need for support and/or protection from harm
  • Demonstrate experience of effective analytical reports/assessments and outcomes-focused action/care plans
  • Have experience in supporting social workers to be the agents of change and to empower and enable them to spend their time doing good quality, meaningful social work
  • Possess strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively within a performance framework to ensure high quality social work

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and will be required to undertake a Cifas check.

About Lambeth

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment. The Civic Centre is just a short walk from the main underground and train station.  

Lambeth – a borough with social and climate justice at its heart. By harnessing the power and pride of our people and partnerships, we will proactively tackle inequalities so that children and young people can have the best start in life and so everyone can feel safe and thrive in a place of opportunity.”

Lambeth 2030 (Borough Plan)

In Lambeth, we offer our social workers:

  • Fantastic, modern working environment in the award-winning Lambeth Town Hall and Civic Centre buildings
  • Competitive Salary, often including a generous market supplement (depending on the role)
  • Up to 35 days annual leave, dependent upon continuous service
  • 5 Minutes from London Underground and excellent transport links into the centre of London
  • Hybrid/Flexible working
  • Cycle to Work Scheme (including City Bike Hire scheme)
  • Attractive Local Government Pension Scheme
  • A permanent senior leadership team in QA
  • Manageable caseloads that enable connection with families