What happens at panel?

[FairyJen]

Posting this in behalf of a friend

Basically she is going to panel in the new year and is terrified. Can someone please explain roughy what happens and what sort of questions are asked etc?


I've worke in this area but been a while so didn't want to mis inform

Thank you

[Italiangreyhound]

There was a thread on her before about it, take a look back and you may be able to see it.

Basically, the panel members talk together, then they invite you (the adopter/s) in and ask you a few questions, then they send you out and then they invite you back in for their reccomendation.

[RationalThought]

They will all have read her report (PAR) in advance and will have discussed any points to clarify before your friend goes in. Although there are a number of people on the panel, normally it's only the chair that will ask any questions.

First the social worker will be asked why your friend will make a good adopter. Then the chair will ask a few questions and give your friend the chance to ask any questions or if she wishes to say anything in support of the application.

It's all usually fairly low key and the social workers wouldn't have put her forward if they didn't think she'd pass. We were approved as adopters in November and then passed matching panel 3 weeks later. Both were very enjoyable and positive experiences.

[Italiangreyhound]

We got asked about 5 questions by different people on panel. It was not too bad at all.

[Italiangreyhound]

Rational how great to be matched so quick after panel. We went to panel in September and are still waiting for a match.

[RationalThought]

Italian - We were notionally matched with dc some months ago and went through assessment focused on this dc. Introductions start in January, so for once Christmas seems like the calm before the storm.

[Italiangreyhound]

Congratulations, how wonderful Rational.

[Hels20]

There is a thread on here from about 6 weeks ago - she should look at that.

But basically, the panel will have read her PAR. They will meet first (at my panel, there were about 12 people sitting round a table) and you will be ushered into a separate room with your social worker. Then, the panel will have a break and the head of the panel (at least, this is what happened to us) will come and introduce themselves to you and might say that they have a few questions- and tell you the questions that they will ask.

We then went in - everyone introduced yourself - and the questions were asked. Then we went back out and were called about 5 minutes later by our social worker to say we had been approved.

I think it is very unlikely you will be taken to panel if you are not going to get approved.

The other thing I would say is that you don't need to dress up in suits etc - DH wore trousers and an open collar shirt; I wore a smart/casual dress. Do not wear jeans though.

[TrinnyandSatsuma]

If it helps, the kind of questions we were asked.....

How did you find the process?
What qualities do you have that you can offer as adoptive parents?
What does your birth child think of your plans?
How will you cope with such a big change to your lifestyle?
What are your motivations to adopt? (Especially as adoption was our first choice, we didn't try and get pregnant)
Why have you expressed a preference for a certain gender and age profile?

The wait for an answer was the longest 15 minutes of my life, but when we heard we had been approved......one of the happiest moments of my whole life I think. Of course until matching panel, when we got another yes!