Independant Visitors Programme
The Independent Visitor Programme is a partnership between Extern in the West and the Western Health and Social Care Trust in NI. Children participate in the Programme on a voluntary basis.
This service is accessible only to children assessed as being at level 4 of the Hardiker scale. The role of the Independent visitor is to “assist, advise and befriend” (The Children (N.I) Order 1995) children within the care system. The Independent Visitors are required to be able to relate to children and be cognisant of the child's religious, cultural or racial background. The Independent Visitor carries no statutory responsibilities.
Referral Criteria
Referral made by the social worker where it appears to the Trust in relation to any child that they are looked after that:
- Communication between that child and:
- A parent of his/hers (or)
- Any person who is not a parent of his/hers but has parental responsibility for him/her has been infrequent.
(OR)
- If it would be in the child's best interest for a visitor to be appointed
- The young person falls within Hardiker level 4
Objectives
Through a range of interventions our staff can ensure each child will:
- Receive individual attention
- Have a consistent role model
- Have the opportunity to avail of a wide range of local community resources
- Have a choice in the content of their programme
- Be encouraged in the constructive use of their leisure time
- Be assured that their visitor will advocate on their behalf if requested to do so by them
- Have access to Roscor Youth Village for overnight residentials when required
Programme Content:
The content of the service is based on the following:
- Cultural Activities
- Recreational activities
- Social and Educational activities
- Individual Service, one to one
- Evening and weekend work for up to 5 hours per week dependant on level of need
Working Hours:
This programme is delivered mainly at evenings and weekends.
Staffing Ratio: One worker to one young person