About
Cambridgeshire's Independent Visitor Service matches young people in care with volunteer befrienders called Independent Visitors or IVs. The aim of the service is to help looked after young people to ...
Independent Visitor to a young person in care
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Summary
We are looking for volunteers in the Peterborough to become Independent Visitors and establish good quality, long term friendships with a young person in care.Detailed description
The aim of the Independent Visitor is to undertake monthly visits to a young person in care. Young people in care have often experienced trauma and lack a consistent adult relationship in their life. The IV is someone who may be the one constant adult in their life.
The IV role is unique and aims to help the young person develop a positive 1:1, long lasting friendship with a trusted adult outside of the care system. Someone who isn’t paid to be there for them.
Young people in care can lack a consistent relationship with an adult and miss out on the experiences and opportunities this can offer them. As an Independent Visitor you will meet with them about once a month to take them out, have fun and be a good role model whilst developing trust and rapport. Our young people often feedback to us they enjoy their time out with their IV’s and like that it gets them out and offers them the opportunity to develop their confidence in meeting new people.
The visits will take place out in the community, based on the needs of the young person, and can involve anything from a walk around the park, bowling, going to a restaurant or an outing to the cinema. Any activity undertaken should be child led.
There is a visit budget of £40 for activities per month and mileage for volunteers is reimbursed on top of this.
Volunteers are supported through regular supervision with the service coordinator and are offered ongoing support and training. No experience is necessary, just the willingness to pledge a few hours a month at the weekend to the young person and support their wellbeing
You should be over 21 years old, able to commit for two years, thereby providing the young person with long-term consistency, and be able to spare at least 2-6 hours per month.
Before you can become an Independent Visitor Cambridgeshire County Council undertake interviews, references, and checks, including an enhanced DBS (criminal records) check. You will need to complete a training programme, involving safeguarding training.