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Introducing Our Panel

What is the panel?

After you have applied and had all of your checks done you will be invited to what is known as the panel. This is a group of individuals who will take a look at your whole portfolio and ask you questions about why you want to be a foster parent and how it will affect your life. It seems daunting but actually, it is just another step to make sure that the right people are fostered. They will make a recommendation on whether they think you should foster and this will go to our agency decision-maker for final approval.

Who will be on the panel?

We are often asked about who will be sitting on the Panel as it can be quite a daunting thought for some people. We want to assure you that we do all we can to put you at ease and make you feel relaxed and positive.

At last week’s Panel Mr and Mrs T were recommended to join our fantastic team of foster carers. They were initially applying with their Local Authority but were having such a negative experience that they thought they would contact an Independent Fostering Agency. They searched online, and found our website! Less than 5 months later they are now ready to embark on their new life as therapeutic foster carers with Mosaic Foster Care.

Our Panel Members come from all backgrounds and bring a variety of experiences to the process.

IM has been a part of our Panel for many years and her expertise is in education. Here’s what she had to say:

“The working environment at Mosaic is welcoming, friendly and child-focused with children’s artwork on display. Photographs of staff are displayed and the office space is warm and inviting. In comparison, some Local Authority meeting rooms are totally bare multi-functional spaces; with no pictures, and hard wooden chairs. The environment is austere and carers must feel more nervous in such surroundings.

I began sitting on foster panels seven years ago. I was prompted to join a panel because as a teacher I worked with pupils who were in care. I wanted to understand how the fostering service worked and why young people came into care. I was meeting regularly with foster carers in school and wanted to know more about their role and how and why they became carers in the first place. Being a panel member is both a privilege and a responsibility. Prior to the meeting we are provided with extensive written reports on each applicant. It is our job to read these carefully and come to panel prepared to contribute our views and propose questions for the social worker or carer that will help us come to an informed decision.

We know that attending panel can be a daunting experience for some but we want to get to know you and be confident that fostering is right for you and the young people entrusted into your care. Members come from all walks of life and we each bring our own skills and experiences to panel. We introduce ourselves at the start of panel. My background is in education but others may come from other professions. They may even be foster carers themselves. What we share is a desire to improve the lives of young people who cannot live with their families for whatever reason.

Panel members only make recommendations to the Agency’s Decision Maker. It is they that will write to you with the final decision and terms of approval.

We wish you well on your chosen path that may not be easy but will be rewarding, and be assured that you will be supported every step of the way.

mosaic Panel member

As you can see, our panel members come from all walks of life and have had direct interactions with the types of young people we see in our agency.

CH (Panel Vice Chair) is a Foster Carer himself and he says:

"I have been a panel member for the past 5 years for the Mosaic fostering agency. When I went on my initial training as a panel member, I was impressed that in all the standards of excellence required of a panel, and of an agency, their Mosaic panel and agency more than met these standards of professionalism and care.
It has been my privilege to be part of the Mosaic fostering panel particularly due to the support, care and ongoing standards Mosaic and the panel keeps.
It is my privilege to work alongside an agency and panel that maintains the highest levels of support for everyone in its organisation - mostly towards the children in their care, but including each foster carer, agency, staff member and panel member.
It is a delight and privilege - not a "Job" to work within this organisation. I feel everyone's view is listened to and valued- mine included".

Panel Chair

We hope this has gone some way to show you a little about who our panel members are and what their job is. Want to apply to be a panel member? Take a look to see if we are hiring!

If you have any further questions or want to make an enquiry, don't hesitate to give us a call or drop us a line!

Mosaic Foster Care is a Private Ltd Company (reg no 07133494) providing fostering placements for children and young people to age 18.
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