Legal Update: In a Nutshell - Independent visitors

Why are independent visitors needed?
Research shows that young people in care can lose contact with their natural family very quickly. This leaves such young people very isolated, with nobody to represent their interests. Where it appears to the local authority that a young person has little communication with parents and he or she has not been visited by them for the last 12 months, and where it would appear to be in the young person’s best interests, the local authority must appoint an independent visitor for the young person.

Who are independent visitors?
Independent visitors are volunteers who befriend and support children and young people aged up to 18 who are looked after by the local authority. All looked-after children should, by law, be offered the chance to have an independent visitor.

How important are they?
Independent visitors take an active interest in the lives, hopes and concerns of young people and are there to listen and help. Volunteers can make a real difference to a young person by sharing a hobby, sport or interest. They can help with school or college work and having outings, such as going to the cinema, to the park or bowling. What is most important is that the activities are what the young person wants to do and that the foster carer, social worker and independent visitor volunteer co-ordinator knows about and agrees with the activities that you do together.

It will take time to build up a good relationship. The early meetings will probably be relatively short, maybe only for an hour at first. Generally, the amount of time spent and frequency of the visits are decided by the young person and the independent visitor, with support and agreement. It will vary according to the circumstances and interests of the young person.

What is the commitment?
Volunteers commit to a young person for a minimum of 12 months. Most volunteers develop a good relationship with the young person they are matched with. In some cases volunteers have carried on visiting a young person for many years and their relationship has continued until the young person leaves the care system. In some situations, the relationship comes to a natural end as the young person grows older, or in some cases the personal circumstances of the volunteer may change.

How do you become an independent visitor?
An independent visitor has training before being approved as a volunteer. The training includes sessions on such topics as: volunteering, children’s rights, child protection, the role of an independent visitor, communication, confidentiality, social service procedures, issues facing looked-after children, and handling children’s behaviour.

To make sure all of the volunteers recruited are safe and suitable for the role, volunteers must undergo a clear and comprehensive selection process involving interviews, reference checks, training and a panel interview. Their social services records are examined and a Disclosure and Barring Service  check is carried out. The protection of children is the paramount concern.