NIACRO Independent Visitor (IV) Scheme Volunteers

Deadline for applications: Friday 15th March 2019.

Interviews: Week commencing 25th March 2019.

Volunteer Training: Saturday 6th and Saturday 13th April 2019.

What Is IV?

The Independent Visitor (IV) Scheme offers a volunteer-led independent befriending and support service to young people aged 11 -18 who are ‘looked after’ by the Belfast and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts and have infrequent or poor quality contact with a parent or person with parental responsibility for them.

A young person is matched with their volunteer for a minimum of one year, though this can be extended with the agreement of the young person and their volunteer.

What Does IV Offer?

Independent Visitors are trained volunteers who provide support, encouragement and continuity of contact to young people.

The role of the Independent Visitor is to:

• provide continuity to a young person who may have experienced a succession of care placements in his/her life;
• work towards building a long term trusting and supportive relationship with the young person;
• act as a positive influence in the young person’s life by promoting the social, emotional, educational, physical and cultural development of young people who engage with the Scheme; and
• support the young person to exercise their rights and participate in making decisions about their life, including attending Looked After Child (LAC) Reviews as appropriate.

To find out how to volunteer for the IV Scheme, visit the volunteering section of our website here.