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Contents

1. When to Appoint 
2. Appointment
3. Duties of Independent Visitor
4. Child Protection
5. Review of Appointment 

1. When to Appoint 

An appointment of an Independent Visitor for a child in care must be made where it appears to be in the best interests of the child to make such an appointment.

In deciding what factors should be taken into account when making such a decision, the following should be considered:

• Whether the child is placed at a distance from home, particularly where the placement is out-of-authority, which makes it difficult to maintain sufficient contact with friends;
• Whether the child is unable to go out independently or whether s/he experiences difficulties in communicating or building positive relationships;
• Whether the child is likely to engage in behaviour which will put him/her at risk as a result of peer pressure or forming inappropriate relationships with people who are significantly older;
• Whether a child placed in a residential setting would benefit from a more individualised relationship;
• Whether it would make a positive contribution to promoting the child's education and health.

Consideration must be given at every Child Care Review as to whether the criteria are met to appoint an Independent Visitor.

2. Appointment

A decision to appoint an Independent Visitor will usually be made at a child’s Child Care Review, except where the child is placed in secure accommodation, in which case arrangements must be made by the child's social worker for the appointment to take place as soon as practicable after the placement.

The appointment should be considered as part of the development and review of the Care Plan; and any decision not to appoint should be kept under review. The child's wishes and feelings should be ascertained and an Independent Visitor may not be appointed if  the child (having sufficient understanding) objects.

Where an appointment is considered necessary, the child's social worker will make contact with the Independent Visitor Coordinator.

3. Duties of Independent Visitors 

The Independent Visitor will have a duty to make regular visits to the child and maintain other contact, by telephone and letter as appropriate.

The main purpose of the visits and contacts will be to befriend the child and give advice and assistance as appropriate with the aim of promoting the child's development and social, emotional, educational and cultural needs.

The Independent Visitor should also encourage the child to participate in decision-making.

The views of the Independent Visitor should be sought before each Child Care Review and he or she should be invited if the child requests it.

Volunteers can offer an independent and consistent link for a child. An Independent Visitor can offer a personal listening, befriending, and supporting service, unencumbered by a vested interest. An Independent Visitor Service can also offer a consistency and reliability of personal interests over an extended period that is not possible on the part of professionals.

If the criteria are met, the authority has to assess whether it would be in the child's best interest for an Independent Visitor to be appointed. It is the Independent Visitor Coordinator responsibility to ensure that referrals are appropriate.

4. Child Protection

All staff/independent visitors must undertake child protection training.

Recruitment and selection proceedings will be rigorous and established to ensure that no child using the service is made more vulnerable to abusive or exploitive behaviour.

Independent Visitors are recruited from a wide pool of people with a variety of backgrounds and ages. Peterborough has a robust induction and training programme in place supplied by 'The Better Together' project in Peterborough.

5. Review of Appointment 

Each Child Care Review should consider the appropriateness of the continuing appointment of the particular/any Independent Visitor for the child. If the child, having sufficient understanding to make an informed decision,  objects to the appointment continuing, the appointment must be terminated and the appropriateness of appointing an alternative Independent Visitor should be considered.

End