What happens at panel?

[Nonio]

After 5 months of twice weekly interview and about a forest of forms I have got a panel date of the 9th Aug. What happens on the day? Who will be there? What should I wear (stupid one I know). It's 3 weeks away and I am nervous already.

at my panel is feb, i was on my way to work (had to go in late) so was in work clothes, but smart casual would be fine.

I went to SS offices, met my SW (the one who did my F form with me), waited about 10 mins, then went into panel, a room with about 10 people - Social workers, teacher, doctor, foster carer etc. Me, my Sw and his manager, they had read my F form and asked me about 12 questions, kinda one from each of them, e.g. why do you want to foster? Why now (time in you life)? Who is your support network etc. It was nerve racking, but informal.
I then left the room and 5 mins later the chair or the panel came out to tell me I'd been approved, but its only their recommendation and that it then has to be sent off (can't remember who) and if they agree it will be offical, which it was, but waited another 3 weeks for the letter to say i'd been approved.

Hope that helps :-)

Thanks queststarz and have also left a message for SW for a chat.

we just got back from panel today.

Panel in our area was a group of people ( chairperson, councillor, foster carer, nurse, social workers, and trainee and secretary) sitting round a table and we sat facing them.

Bit daunting at first, but all were very friendly.

They asked us a couple of questions each - mainly about how we thought fostering would affect our daughter.

Then they told us we had been accepted! (Yeah!) and then explained their reasons as to why they'd reached that decision.

My DH wore smart trousers and shirt, I wore polo jumper and skirt.

You sound like you have had a lot of preparation - you should get/have already got your "this is your life" book copy of your application panel - if it is like ours it will be hugely detailed and have everything about your life/work/beliefs (weird reading about yourself like that!)

GOOD LUCK and hope this helps.

IMO a lot depends on the social worker/other professional preparing your file - if they have done a thorough job your acceptance will almost be a "given" - if not, you might face at panel some of the questions that should have been asked earlier.....which would not be so pleasant. If there are any gaps in your life story, the panel WILL ask. Better to have them explained in your application than to try and explain yourself on the spot to a group of 8 or so strangers.........

We went to panel on Friday and it was pretty much as described above

There were 10 people which included a policeman, an ex foster child, a couple of SWs and foster carers, plus 1 who was just sitting in for experience and 1 note taker.

They were allowed to ask 10 questions but only asked 2 - why we wanted to foster and how we thought our own children would cope

We then left the room for a couple of minutes then they came out and told us we were approved. It's not 100% official as it has to be approved by the Director, but ours was cut and dried, they had no concerns so it's pretty much a done deal.

I was terrified, especially as when you walk into the room there's all these people sitting round a big board table, but our Form F assessor was with us and they were all really lovely so it was fine. Half an hour and job done.

Good luck!

If your Form F assessor is has done a good job on your paperwork it's pretty much a done deal before you get there. Our assessor doesn't put you forward to panel if she doesn't think you'll get through

Oh, and as for what we wore, DH wore smart jeans an a short-sleeved shirt and trainers, I wore skinny jeans, a blue & White striped tunic and red plimsolls.

Most of the panel were smart-casual, no suits or anything like that