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1.1.5 Terms of Reference – Finance Panel

This chapter was added to the manual in November 2016.


Contents

  1. Purpose
  2. Term
  3. Membership
  4. Roles and Responsibilities
  5. Meetings
  6. Reports for Meetings
  7. Record of the Meeting
  8. Appeal Process


1. Purpose

The purpose of the Finance Panel within Children’s Social Care is to provide the decision making on financial expenditure for Special Guardians, Adopters and Carers with Child Arrangement Order or Foster Carers.

The Finance Panel sets out to ensure a fair and transparent financial process is in place.


2. Term

The Terms of Reference is effective from 1st June 2016 and will be reviewed on an annual basis.


3. Membership

The Finance Panel will comprise of:

  • Head of Service, Cared for Children;
  • Head of Service, Child Protection and Court Proceedings;
  • Practice Manager – Adoption;
  • Commissioning Manager;
  • Finance Officer.


4. Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities are as follows:

  • Adhere to Council Finance Policy and procedures;
  • Ensure that the Council is not duplicating Universal Benefits;
  • Consideration of initial financial assessments for prospective  special guardians and agree proposed financial package which can include:
    • One off payments;
    • Weekly allowances.
  • Consideration of initial financial assessments for prospective adopters and agree proposed financial package which can include:
    • One off payments;
    • Weekly allowances.
  • Consideration of initial financial assessments for prospective those with CAO and agree proposed financial package which can include:
    • One off payments;
    • Weekly allowances.
  • Consideration of initial financial requests for S17 payments above £500 as a one off or cumulative payments over a period of 12 months:
    • One off payments for specific items or services;
    • Regular one off payments which together equates to or could equate to over £500 in a 12 month period;
    • Retrospective review of regular one off payments which together equates to or could equate to over £500 and are likely to continue.
  • Review on an annual basis on-going weekly allowances in line with the Support Plan and national guidance SGOs, Adoption and CAO;
  • Monitor suspension of payments to carers;
  • To consider appeals and complaints in respect of financial assistance given or decisions made by the Finance Panel;
  • To provide the Senior Leadership Team with an ‘in principal’ decision regarding building works to properties for Foster Carers / prospective Special Guardians / prospective adopters;
  • Review procedures in line with changes in statutory guidance and legislation;
  • Review terms of reference on annual basis.

Members of the Financial Panel will commit to:

  • Attend all meetings or send an appropriate deputy;
  • Share all communication with members of the panel;
  • Make timely decisions and take the appropriate action.


5. Meetings

  • Meetings take place weekly (currently Monday morning);
  • All meetings will be Chaired by the Head of Service Cared for Children and in their absence the Head of Service Child Protection and Court Proceedings;
  • All meetings, at least 2 of the membership group must be in attendance;
  • The responsible allocated social worker and / or manager must attend to present new applications for financial assistance but are not required to attend the annual review meetings.


6. Reports for Meetings

  • The Finance Panel pro forma must be completed and submitted by the allocated social worker;
  • All documentation must be submitted the week before, by Friday lunch time, or in the event of a bank holiday the previous day (lunch time);
  • All documentation must be fully completed and additional information / evidence provided in respect of the carers financial circumstances.


7. Record of the Meeting

  • A record of the meeting will be made with Business Support provided to take minutes;
  • The notes of the meeting will not be verbatim and will be a summary of the issues considered and discussed;
  • The record will include the decision of the panel;
  • The record of the meeting will be passed to the Chair within 3 working days of the meeting taking place;
  • The Chair will ensure that all records of the meeting are signed off within 48 hours of receipt.


8. Appeal Process

  • Representations from carers or those in receipt of financial assistance regarding the decision of the panel should be put in writing to the Commissioning Manager within 14 days of receipt of the letter;
  • The carer or person making the representation should clearly outline the reason for their representation or complaint and outline the information they feel the Panel has not taken into consideration;
  • The Panel will consider this information at the next available panel date and send a further letter regarding their decision;
  • If the carer or person making the representation to the Panel remains dissatisfied they should be referred to the Complaint Procedure.

End