Independent Visitor volunteer

Volunteer Independent Visitor (IV)

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care to achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their lives, by building a strong bond and supporting them to experience a range of activities?

Yes?

Then our Volunteer Independent Visitor role may be right for you!

You could make a difference by:

Supporting a child or young person who may have little or no contact with their parents or other family members.

This service offers support to a child or young person by:

• Matching your hobbies and interests to that of the child or young person
• Being a positive role model who can enable a child or young person to take more productive paths in their lives
• Being a ‘trusted person’ that a young person can talk to and to share their concerns with, with a view to supporting them to get their desired outcome

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for friendly people aged over 21 who are good communicators to join our volunteer team. They will be reliable, compassionate, caring, respectful and understanding.

You do not need to be an expert; empathy matters more than academic qualifications or experience and we are keen to hear from people from all walks of life.

All we ask is that you are keen and able to:

• Understand the circumstances of children and young people in care and put the needs of children and young people first
• Utilise excellent communication skills and be comfortable conversing with children and young people
• Commit to children and young people’s rights and welfare
• Complete and submit relevant paperwork and forms
• Be computer literate and have access to emails and Microsoft Teams on a device
• Attend quarterly supervisions and volunteer meetings with our volunteer management team
• Attend necessary internal and external training
• Adhere to our volunteer policies and procedures
• Maintain strict confidentiality
• To commit to three or four hours a month offering a commitment of 2 years
• Travel using public transport or your own vehicle (for which you should have a full

UK driving licence)

What you will receive in return:

• Training opportunities
• An opportunity to develop your skills and experience in the health and social care sector
• Support and encouragement from our volunteer management team
• Out of pocket expenses
• Testimonials or a reference to support your career progression
• And most of all … a rewarding experience

OUR VALUES

Quality: We deliver high quality advocacy - we have over 20 years' experience of providing expert, person-led advocacy.

People: We put people at the heart of everything we do and want to enable them to make positive change in their lives.

Respectful: We are a respectful team - we treat everyone equally and make sure everyone feels valued, respected and listened to.

Trust: You can trust us and know that we will keep your information confidential and safe.

Independent: We are independent of councils and health services and we are on your side.

Learning: We never stop learning - we learn from the people we support, our partners and each other.