The Fostering Panel considers:

• Applications from prospective short-term and long-term foster carers
• Reviews of short-term and long-term foster carers.

The Panel is responsible for ensuring that assessments and reviews have been conducted fairly and thoroughly and to recommend the approval or re-approval or applicants and foster carers, who have the necessary qualities and skills to meet the needs of looked after children.

Fostering Panels are required by law to have up to ten members with a range of expertise. Carmarthenshire’ Panel includes:

• An independent Chair
• Social workers, with expertise and knowledge about fostering and looked after children.
• Foster Carer from another agency
• A person who has previously looked after a child
• A member with expertise and knowledge about education
• Councillor
• An observer from Children’s Services who does not have voting rights.

The Panel meets monthly. Occasionally there are additional Panels where there is a large volume of foster carer assessments and reviews.