Fostering panels are an essential part of the fostering assessment process, and help to ensure that vulnerable children in care are placed in safe and loving homes with foster carers who are trained and knowledgeable, and able to meet their needs.
In today’s blog, we’re looking at how medical advisors support fostering panels to make decisions about an applicant’s suitability to become a foster carer.
What is a Fostering Panel?
In order to become a foster carer, applicants must be thoroughly assessed, checked, and vetted. The initial assessment process typically takes several months, with an assigned social worker carrying out regular visits to the applicant’s home and gathering information, which they then use to compile a detailed report.
This paperwork is then presented to a panel of independent people, who will form the ‘fostering panel.’ After reading the assessment paperwork, this panel then meets – either in-person or virtually (online), to discuss whether or not they think the applicant/s should be approved as a foster carer, and if so, for what age range they should be considered.
Many prospective carers assume that the panel has the power to make a “yes” or “no” decision there and then on the day, however, in reality, this isn’t the case. Instead, the panel will provide a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) who will be responsible for the final decision.
Prospective carers will be told on the day what the panel’s recommendation will be, but it can take up to a week to receive written confirmation from the ADM of the final decision.
Who Attends a Fostering Panel?
A fostering panel is made up of a diverse range of people. This might include approved foster carers, care-experienced young people, and professionals from backgrounds in social care, healthcare, or education.
The fostering panel should be sufficiently independent of the fostering agency or local authority that the applicant is being assessed for and representative of the wider community.
Some panel members will have specific roles. For example, the panel chair, whose job it is to lead the panel, a minute-taker, who will record what’s said during the panel meeting, or a medical adviser who can give specialist insight into an applicant’s medical history. Prospective foster carers will be invited to attend the panel too.
What Is the Role of a Fostering Medical Advisor at Panel?
Fostering medical advisers will be asked to prepare a detailed report based on the medical forms that have been completed by the applicant and their GP.
This will include information about the applicant’s current health and any past health issues. If a prospective foster carer has a medical condition, the report will include information about how this affects them, any medication they’re currently taking, and whether or not their health will impact their ability to foster a child or children.
If a medical adviser attends a fostering panel, they may also be asked questions by other panel members, such as how fostering might impact the applicant’s health or what age ranges the medical advisor considers an applicant to be most suitable for.
The fostering medical adviser’s expertise helps to contribute to informed decision-making, so the panel can feel confident that they’re making the right recommendation to the ADM.
Orr Medical – Trusted Fostering Medical Advisors
Orr Medical are trusted fostering medical advisors with over a decade of experience. Our services include adoption and fostering medical assessments, as well as our core adoption and fostering medical adviser service. We can also attend panels if required, to provide expert insight and clarification in real time.
To find out more about who we are and the services we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also call us on 01772 915861. We look forward to hearing from you.