Independent Visitor Service - Sandwell and Walsall

Announcement:

We no longer run this service in Dudley or Telford & Wrekin:

We will continue to run the service in Sandwell and Walsall.

A man and a child at a skatepark

An Independent Visitor is a volunteer who doesn’t work for social care services and is there to visit and befriend a child or young person in foster care.   

It is a statutory role and should be discussed at all looked after reviews and taken into consideration.

Independent Visitors are there to provide a consistent, reliable, and positive adult role model to the young person. They are volunteers who give back their own free time to help make a difference in a child or young person's life. The volunteer will offer confidential support to a young person who has been specifically matched to them with similar interests and hobbies. The role is on a long-term basis and has the aim of providing one-to-one time and space for the young person to talk, feel listened to, valued and have some fun.  

A man and a boy in the park

Professionals

All Independent Visitors are fully trained and hold an enhanced DBS.  The relationship is independent of local authority professionals and is managed solely by the project staff and all correspondence should go directly through [email protected].

How it works  

  • One-to-one sessions, once per month in the community.
  • Dates, times, and activities are planned between the young person and their Independent Visitors who will liaise directly with the carers to organise.
  • Independent Visitors are supervised by project staff and are given a budget for appropriate activities.
  • The service provided is confidential -unless there is a concern about the young person or someone else
  • Independent Visitor's visits can continue for as long as the young person consents and will be reviewed on a regular basis by all involved.

 What we need from professionals 

  • Update information - such as placement moves, changes in the social work team, placement stability issues
  • Feedback from any relevant meetings 

To find out more about the service and how to make a request for a young person you are supporting, please email the project at: [email protected].

A woman and a child chatting while sat on a sofa

Carers

What we need from foster carers and residential staff is their support with:

  • Arranging dates and times with the volunteer for their monthly session with the young person 
  • To liaise with the volunteer to inform of any important updates or if visits need to be rearranged
  • Support the young person to provide annual feedback to the project staff 
  • Ensure the child or young person is ready on time and has everything they need for the visit, ie suitable clothing, understanding of start and finish times

To find out more about the role or if you would like to make a service request:

Please email [email protected].