Independent Visitor

Keywords

18+ Befriending Children Flexible Home Visiting Listening Skills Training Given Young People

Description

What is an Independent Visitor?
An Independent Visitor (also known as an IV) is a responsible adult volunteer who befriends and supports a child or young person looked after by a local authority and has little or no contact with their parents.

The children or young people may need additional support particularly as they are likely to be living in children’s homes, foster homes or independently

Key Responsibilities
To visit, support, befriend and advise a child or young person being looked after by the Local Authority, who has infrequent or no contact with parents or those who have parental responsibility, or who would benefit from the support of an IV.

Main Duties:
• To visit the child (or young person) on a regular basis, making suitable arrangements with their carer and the child (young person) and to be reliable in keeping to those
arrangements.
• To befriend the child (or young person) establishing a relationship of trust and support, and to be prepared for an ongoing relationship, possibly beyond the young person’s time in
care.
• To promote the child’s (or young person’s) developmental, social, emotional, educational, religious and cultural needs.
• To undertake activities, agreed with the child (or young person) which are suitable for their age, aptitude and ability.
• To listen to the child (or young person) and provide advice and information regarding issues in their life. Where the advice is regarding complex situations to encourage the child
(or young person) to seek and accept help and guidance from appropriate services and individuals, this could include a Coram Voice Advocate.
• To be willing and available to undertake training and supervision with the volunteer coordinator, both on a one-to-one basis and in group meetings.
• If requested, to provide a contribution to the review of the child’s (or young person’s) case by the Local Authority, which reflects the child’s (or young person’s) viewpoint. This contribution can either be in writing or at the child’s (or young person’s) invitation by attending the review.
• To refer to the Volunteer Coordinator, a Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) or other Coram Voice Manager, or in their absence the Social Worker, or in emergency situations the emergency duty Social Workers, any concerns about the child’s (or young person’s) welfare, or safety.
• To act within the Confidentiality Policy of Coram Voice, keeping any confidential information safely stored. To return any confidential information to the IV Manager at the end of the
formal relationship.
• To act within the Coram Voice and Local Authority safeguarding policies.
• To keep accurate records of any expenses incurred, and to submit regular claims for these expenses, together with receipts, and also details of visits made, activities undertaken and
any issues or outcomes from the visits.
• To recognise and challenge all forms of discrimination and prejudice in the workplace.
• To treat everyone with respect, dignity and fairness and to acknowledge and celebrate
diversity.
• To maintain an awareness of your own and others’ health and safety and comply with Coram Group Health and Safety policy and procedures.
• To maintain confidentiality of information; it will be necessary to comply with all requirements related to the Data Protection Act/ General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

*Out for pocket expenses paid for travel and activities*

What rewards come with volunteering, and how does it create meaningful change?

Independent visitor volunteers their time, visits and befriends child or young person living in care. 

Once matched they spend time together doing activities the child enjoys which might range from going to walks, having ice cream, cinema, museums, theatre, dinner etc.

The unique role of an IV enables children and young people to have at least one consistent, trusting relationship that is built over time.

The IV will endeavour to become and remain a stable adult in the child’s life who doesn’t change when placements or social workers change and will at all times stay child focused. Independent Visitors take an interest into the lives, hopes and concerns of a child or young person, and are there to listen and most of all have fun.

Requirements

• Must be over 18 years of age and have a DBS check 
• Must not be an elected member of the council
• Must not work for Children’s Services within the Local Authority in a role where there is access to young people files
• Must not be a partner of either of the above