What happens at panel?

During the fostering process, attending the panel may be the step that worries you the most.

Once your assessment report is completed, You’ll be invited to attend the next Panel. We hold these at least monthly.

Fostering panels are essential in the approval process for Foster Carers. It’s a room full of people who come together to ask you questions and get to know you better. But don’t worry; everyone is aware that it can be a nerve-wracking experience, and panel members will try to help you relax.

So who sits on the panel? Panel members include; a panel chairperson, a vice-chair, a social worker, at least three other members, and a panel adviser. The panel is selected to reflect the community and individuals with professional and stakeholder/ service-user experiences. This could include independent adults with experience and knowledge of fostering, who were fostered or in care themselves, work in children’s social care, or health and education.

There are usually 9 to 11 people in the room, including an administrator taking minutes. It can feel a bit full, but your assessing social worker is there with you to explain the recommendation to the panel.

Before the panel, the chair will introduce themselves and explain what will happen and how the panel works. The panel will discuss your application and ask you to join them, along with your assessing social worker.

You may be nervous about the approval process, but our fostering teams aim to make the process as smooth as possible and support you throughout.

The panel will then make a decision whether or not to recommend your approval as a Foster Carer. This recommendation will then be reviewed and considered by a senior manager, the Local Authority’s Agency Decision Maker (ADM), a few days later. They will then make the final decision. You will then be formally notified that you are now an approved Foster Carer and who your supervising social worker will be.

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