Support for looked after children and care leavers

Independent Visitor Service

The law says that looked after children and young people have the right to an Independent Visitor if they want one. The Council is required to make Independent Visitors available to all children in care if this is in the child's interests.

The main things you can expect an Independent Visitor to do are:

  • To provide support, to visit, advise and befriend you
  • To enable you to have contact with someone who is independent of the children’s care system, this means people like your carers or your social worker
  • To work with the Council, making sure that we stay independent and ‘on your side’
  • To be able to keep things in confidence unless you or someone else are at risk 
  • To be sensitive to your race, religion, culture, language, ability, gender or sexual orientation
  • To provide the opportunity for you to develop meaningful long-term relationships with adults
  • To be able to organise activities with you that will suit you and that you will enjoy
  • To be committed to meet with you twice a month or every three weeks