Independent visitor scheme

Qualifications

  • No formal qualifications are required

Experience and knowledge

  • No formal experience is required, but an understanding of the issues facing young people in today’s society, particularly those ‘looked after’ within the care system, is essential.

Personal qualities

  • Applicants should be aged over 21 years
  • Should be able to make an ongoing minimum commitment of two hours a month, plus travelling time to support a young person. Initial contact during the first month is likely to be more frequent.
  • Should have common sense, resilience and a sense of humour.
  • Should be reliable and consistent
  • Should be committed to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
  • Should have access to their own transport, or be able to travel if necessary.

Skills

  • Applicants should be able to listen to and communicate with young people
  • Should be able to use their own initiative and work independently to establish and develop a one-to-one relationship
  • Should be able to gain a young person’s trust, and help them build on their confidence and self-esteem.
  • Should provide a positive role model
  • Should be willing and able to maintain scheme guidelines regarding confidentiality, Child Protection, equal opportunities and good practice, and should at all times maintain appropriate boundaries in their relationship with their young person.
  • Should be able to recognise the limits of their own knowledge and responsibility, and be willing to seek support where necessary.
  • Should be able to draw usefully on strengths gained from past life experience

Motivation

  • Applicants should be willing to participate in individual and group support sessions
  • Should be willing to participate in induction training events and ongoing training opportunities
  • Should be to be willing to work with a degree of flexibility according to the needs of the young person and the scheme

Contact Details

Email: iv@ypvoice.co.uk
Telephone: 01373 859485
Fax: 01373 827706
Postal Address:
"Voice"
Westbury Youth Development Centre
Eden Vale Road
Westbury
Wiltshire  BA13 3NY


Last updated: 24 March 2009