Independent Appeal Panel
How to appeal
An application will automatically be passed to the Independent Appeal Panel if the independent service provider (DACB) has not been able to accept it.
Applicants will be notified if their application has been referred to the panel along with reasons why. Applicants will be invited to submit any further material in relation to this within 56 days for consideration.
Any application where there is an adverse issue[1] will be passed directly to the Independent Appeal Panel. A decision as to whether an application must be declined due adverse issues will be made by the Independent Appeal Panel after the applicant has had an opportunity to comment on this, or any other issues, in writing or through a face-to-face meeting as they prefer.
Who deals with an appeal
The Independent Appeal Panel will consider the application.
The panel is chaired by the appointed chair who is a permanent member of the panel. Two other panel members support the chair.
The Panel Chairs and Members have backgrounds in:
- being in care or children of care-experienced adults
- social work including adult mental health, children’s social care and care management for adult drug and alcohol misuse
- legal including family law, child protection, adult social care, and tribunals
- panel membership for financial awards related to historic child abuse claims, elected members’ conduct, central government and health appeals, school exclusion appeals and admission reviews, fostering, complaints and disciplinaries, and regulatory bodies
- volunteer work including fostering decisions, school governance, food banks, and support during IICSA
For appeals under the scheme, all three panel members will decide.
The council, including the council Leader, has no influence or control over the decisions the panel makes.
What happens during an appeal
The panel will review an application and the initial stage decision made by DACB.
The panel may ask for more written information. They can ask this from:
- the applicant
- the Support Payment Team
- the independent service provider, DACB
- Any other council or council-commissioned services, subject to the applicant’s consent
Applicants will have an opportunity to submit information in writing or through a face-to-face meeting as they prefer.
Appeal meetings will be held either in-person, virtually or hybrid.
The decision of the Independent Appeal Panel is final.
How long can an appeal take
If the panel does not need more information, it can review an application within 30 working days of getting it. If the panel needs more information, the appeal decision may take longer.
How we chose the appeal panel members
We openly advertised and shortlisted potential panel members and chairs.
We evaluated potential members based on their experience and knowledge.
We selected a pool of eight independent members and three independent chairs.
How we choose members for each panel meeting
Depending on their availability, each panel member will take it in turn to sit on a panel.
How to contact
Contact the Independent Appeal Panel: IPSPS@islington.gov.uk.
[1] There are situations in which it would be unlawful for the council to make a payment under the scheme or the council could not in all good conscience make a payment. Examples are an applicant has links to a terrorist organisation or has engaged in terrorism, organised crime, sexual crimes, murder or manslaughter. These are referred to as adverse issues. Prior criminal activity, of itself, does not exclude an applicant from applying or receiving a payment under the scheme.