The complex work of adoption and fostering panels often benefits from the involvement of an independent agency, particularly in the role of chairperson. To ensure that decision making is as robust and well informed as possible a range of local authorities and other agencies use AFA Scotland to provide this service. In addition to experience of chairing panels across Scotland, AFA also runs the Panel Chairs Development forum and is particularly well placed to ensure that the work of panels is informed by the most up to date thinking and practice. In a context where decisions are often scrutinised and challenged in subsequent court proceedings this expertise and independence provides additional credibility to the work of the panel.
Different agencies ask for slightly different things, but the broad outline of what AFA Scotland's panel chairs provide is:
1. Preparation
Reading papers and liaison with the panel coordinator about cases and the agenda.
2. Meeting Management
Chairing the meeting, ensuring appropriate involvement and engagement of all panel members and others attending the meeting, and effective management of process and timing.
3. Post panel follow up
Completing panel feedback forms (panel members’ comments to people presenting), review and amend minute as required, liaise with panel coordinator and, if appropriate, have discussions with the agency decision maker to explain how the panel reached a particular decision.
4. Other roles - (if requested)
for example, annual/ feedback appraisal of panel members and contribution to annual panel report.
The charge (for members) is £500 per panel plus travel costs. If the chair needs to attend separate business meetings or training events, there will be an additional charge for these meetings
