Say hello to our fostering panel!
At Eastern Fostering Services, we are lucky enough to have a fantastic team who make up our fostering panel. Some of the panel have worked with children or in Social Care. Others have fostered or worked with foster carers. And some of them are completely independent of fostering. This gives our panel balance and perspective and allows them to fully consider all prospective foster carers fairly.
The Panel reviews the information and evidence in the report your supervising social worker writes for you when you apply to become a foster carer.
The Panel then makes a decision whether or not to recommend you as a foster carer to your fostering agency.
Corrie: Chair (Services Manager, Local Authority)
My name is Corrie Castleman and I am an independent Social Worker and chair of the panel. I love meeting all of you willing to open your home to the most vulnerable children and young people in our community and think you and your families are all remarkable!
I came to England from South Africa in 1996 and have never looked back.
When I first came to England, I worked in a long-term child carer team for about 4 years. I joined the Fostering Service about 19 years ago as a Social worker in the Adolescent Fostering Team. After that, I managed two different teams with responsibility for recruitment, support and training of foster carers. In 2002, I set up the Fostering Recruitment Team in my Local Authority before going on maternity leave with my first daughter. I love the team and the work we do and feel passionate about recruiting the most suitable foster carers able to meet the needs of our very complex children. In this role on Fostering Panel, I love meeting extraordinary people like yourselves.
David
After working for a time as a clinical psychologist in the NHS,
I spent many years teaching psychology to a wide range of students, including doctors, heath visitors, teachers, nurses and social workers. I was involved in the development of new degree courses in psychology, sociology and criminology, as well in the development of the new University of Suffolk.
As the father of 5 children I was very committed to their welfare, and we worked hard at getting satisfactory balances between work and fun, which is not an easy task. When my wife (below) joined Eastern Fostering Services, I was impressed with commitment and care provided by the team for foster parents and the children and have taken part in many panel meetings approving amazing, high quality people as new foster carers
Tricia
After working for a time as a clinical psychologist in the NHS,
I qualified as a social worker in 1986. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have had a variety of interesting roles. I also have training in therapeutic work.
In 2012, I came to work for Eastern Fostering Services, working with foster parents and foster children as a supervising social worker. I retired from full time work in April 2017.
Now, I really enjoy being part of the fostering panel. I love being involved in the process of bringing more foster parents into the world!
Nigel
Hi, I am Nigel Jones. I was born in Manchester and with a degree in Business Studies from Bradford University, I worked as an accountant, tax adviser and later Human resources Director in the Financial services industry in Kendal and then Ipswich.
My interests include writing poetry and short stories as well as supporting my boyhood team Manchester City.
I moved to Suffolk from the Northwest in 2001 and since retiring I have served as a local parish councillor. I met my wife, Pauline at University and we have a son and a daughter. I have been an Eastern Fostering Services Panel member for nearly ten years.
Jane
Hello, serving on the Eastern Fostering Services panel is a privilege to me as an experienced Foster Carer. I enjoy sharing my home with children who are unable to live with their birth parents for whatever reason. The fun and frustration are usually in equal measures!
My career background has been Social care management and my family life is vibrant with 4 grown children and 11 grandchildren. I am a lone carer and find the challenges of Foster caring rewarding and fulfilling. Live, Laugh, Love!
Netta
Netta
Hi, I’m Netta, a retired social worker who has clocked up 40 years of childcare practice, the last 20 of which were spent working for the NSPCC.
I joined Eastern Fostering Services Panel in 2015 and enjoy all aspects of the role. I look forward to meeting the caring, courageous, and dedicated people who come to panel, and I have continued to learn and be educated by their experiences. I have a renewed special interest in the welfare and development of under 5s (which is where my social work career began) as I now spend as much time as I can with my three year old granddaughter, or threenager as my daughter describes her! When not doing that I am a keen gardener, walker and talker!
Eastern Fostering Service is a fantastic organisation to be a part of. The staff team are a creative, energetic, and fun-loving bunch! They have a passionate commitment to their work and of finding new ways of working to improve the service, and this means the work of panel always remains fresh, challenging and rewarding.
Rachel
Hi, I’m Rachel. I was a secondary school geography teacher for 10+ years and currently do some supply teaching. I worked at EFS as an admin assistant for almost 5 years before leaving and re-joining as a panel member. I love being a panel member for EFS. I get to meet the wonderful people who provide a safe, loving home for children and young people in need. I am full of admiration for them!
I have 2 young children who keep me very busy with their various activities. When I get any spare time I enjoy going to the gym, swimming, watching cricket, long walks in the countryside and going to the beach!
Carrie-Ann
Hi, I’m Carrie-Ann. I qualified as a barrister when I was 22 years old and worked within law for 5 years before I changed careers and worked for a children’s charity working with looked after children. I started working as an Advocate for the children in the care system and worked my way up to managing 6 services supporting and helping hundreds of children in Suffolk. I then took 10 years off to have my three children and finally returned to work in law in September 2023 for a local law firm in their conveyancing department. Alongside my role as client services and onboarding lead I joined Eastern Fostering Services as a panel member. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends and our dog Winnie, exercising and enjoying good food and drink.
Lynne
Hi, I’m Lynne. I have worked in Health and Social care since 1977.
I trained as Nurse for people with Learning Difficulties and as a Nurse for people with mental health issues.
I later went on to achieve a BA in English and History and an MA in Social Work.
I am now semi-retired I sit as an independent panel member for several independent foster agencies.
I was the Manager of a children’s home a role of which I am extremely proud.
I take my role as an independent panel member very seriously I want young people / children to find families that are committed to give them the care and love they deserve.
I had the privilege of bringing up two non-birth children. I am aunt to two adopted nieces with whom I have a close relationship. I am the proud grandmother of four beautiful granddaughters.
I am a frustrated Author still procrastinating and finishing none of many literary projects I have started.
I love wild swimming canoeing reading radio four and a chilled glass of Champagne in no particular order.
What happens at the Fostering Panel?
You and your assessing Social Worker will be invited to attend Panel.
The panel members meet first to discuss your report and then you and your assessing social worker will be invited into the meeting to join in the discussion.
The Panel will ask you any questions they may have, and then you will have an opportunity to ask questions of your own.
Your assessing social worker will then take you to a waiting room and the panel will discuss their conclusions and recommendation.
The Chairperson will tell you of the Panel’s recommendation.
What happens after the Fostering Panel?
A copy of the Panel minutes is forwarded with the Panel’s recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker, this is the person who will make the final decision as to whether you become a foster carer.
You will be sent written confirmation of the agency’s decision.
What happens if you are not approved?
You can write to the Registered Manager within 28 days to make an appeal and have your application reviewed. Your assessing Social Worker will explain the appeals procedure to you.
Once you are approved
Eastern Fostering Services will immediately allocate you a Supervising Social Worker, who will visit you and make sure you have a copy of the Foster Carer’s Handbook. They will take you through the Foster Carer’s Agreement. The team will be in touch with you as soon as any children are referred who might be suitable to come and live with your family.
