Committees and Joint Arrangements
Chapter 32: Other Joint and Local Bodies
Section 32.1: Regional Adoption Panel Terms of Reference and Procedures
Subsection 32.1.1: Adoption Panel Terms of Reference
Summary Description:All adoption decisions for relinquished children and matches for children are considered by the Adopt London East (ALE) Adoption Panel, with whom Tower Hamlets works in partnership alongside three other boroughs as a Regional Adoption Agency. ALE assesses and approves adopters via this panel.
Membership:ALE maintains a list of persons who are considered by it to be suitable to be members of an adoption panel “The Central list”It must include:-
One or more social workers who have at least three years relevant post-qualifying experience.
The medical adviser to the adoption agency
Responsibilities | Delegation of Functions |
|---|---|
The panel is responsible for the following in relation to recommendations to the Tower Hamlets Agency Decision Maker: To make adoption decisions for relinquished children. To make recommendations in relation to a ‘match’ of an adopter with a child. The adoption panel makes a considered recommendation, taking in to account all of the relevant information sent through to them. The relevant documentation is sent out to the panel members at least five working days in advance of the actual panel date. To make a fresh recommendation if a case is referred back to panel following an applicant being considered unsuitable and where they make representations to the agency. To consider a brief report when the assessing social worker is recommending that the applicant’s assessment should be terminated. To consider the reviews of approved adopters where they may be considered no longer suitable to adopt, and to follow the process set out in AAR 29.4 Give advice and make recommendations on any other matter or case as appropriate. In addition the panel has the following duties and functions: A quality assurance function reporting back to the agency every six months in relation to the assessment process and the quality of reports being presented to the panel, including checking whether the requirements of the Restrictions on the Preparation of Adoption Reports Regulations 2005 are being met. In particular, monitoring and review of the work carried out by assessors: to provide feedback; to identify problems; and to ensure there is a consistency of approach in assessment across the service, and that assessment is fair to all applicants and has been completed in a thorough and rigorous way. Monitoring the range and type of adopters available to Tower Hamlets in comparison with the needs of children requiring adoptive placements and monitoring time scales according to set standards. Where these timescales have not been met, recording accurately the reason for delay. Ensuring the written minutes of panel meetings are accurate and informative, and clearly cover the key issues and views expressed by panel members. The minutes should record the panel’s recommendation, the reasons for its recommendation and its advice. The panel chair is responsible for checking the accuracy of the minutes, ensuring they are sufficiently full, and give the actual recommendations from the panel meeting. Exploring the support offered to adopters and post- and pre-placement children and making recommendations accordingly | None |
Quorum:From the central list the agency must appoint:-
A person to chair the panel, who is independent of the agency,
One or two people as vice-chairs, who may act as chair if necessary
Additional Information:
Supplementary Documents Pack, S14 (Adoption Panel Meeting Procedure Rules)
Subsection 32.1.2: Adoption Panel Procedures
Subsection 32.1.3: The Channel Panel Terms of Reference
Summary Description:The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 sets out the statutory duty on local authorities to provide support for people vulnerable from being drawn into terrorism. This duty is met through the Channel Panel.
Membership:The Panel is chaired by the local authority and comprises of the Deputy Chair, representatives from Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, the Metropolitan Police, East London NHS Foundation Trust, National Probation Service, National Health Service, and London Borough of Tower Hamlets Community Safety Service. Additional members to the Panel can also be appointed on an ad hoc basis.
Subsection 32.1.4: Children’s Social Care Complaint Review Panel Terms of Reference
Summary Description:The Children Act 1989 Representations Procedure (England) Regulations 2006 (‘the 2006 Regulations’) provides that local authorities are required to put in place systems for complaints to be made verbally to a member of staff or in writing about the actions, decisions or apparent failings of a local authority’s children’s social services provision. Complaints can be made by the child or young person and to allow any other appropriate person to act on behalf of the child or young person concerned or make a complaint in their own right.
Membership:The Panel consists of three independent people and independent means a person who is neither a member nor an officer of the Council, nor the spouse or civil partner of such a person. The Independent Person appointed to Stage 2 may not be a member of the Panel.
Subsection 32.1.5: Corporate Parenting Board Procedures
Membership of the Corporate Parenting Board:
The Corporate Parenting Board is chaired by the Lead Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People. Other members of the Board are represented by lead professionals from agencies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and their partners.
Lead Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning (Chair)
Three additional co-opted Members
Director of Legal
Young people representatives (from the Children in Care Council – Young People’s Group)
Foster Carer representative
CAMHS in Social Care Team Lead
In addition the following Officers are in attendance to report to the group:
Director, Children’s Social Care (Supporting Families)
Service Manager, Children’s Specialist Services
Virtual School Head, Learning and Achievement
Barts Health, Children Looked After representative
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Other Officers and partners may be called in to specific meetings. However, the Corporate Parent Board will do more to engage partner agencies to support the wellbeing of all Looked After Children. This will include partners from education, mental health, Jobcentre Plus (inc DWP), housing and the youth offending service.
The quorum for the meeting will be: at least 3 members of the group, to include at least 1 Member/deputy Member and at least 1 young person representative.
The Corporate Parenting Board will maintain close links with children and young people through the Children in Care Council (CiCC). The Young People’s representative on the Corporate Parenting Board will be nominated by the CiCC and will be accompanied by the Children’s Rights Advocacy Service.
Terms of Reference
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