The role of the Independent Visitor was introduced as a statutory service for looked after children in the Children Act 1989. The National Independent Visitor Development Project (NIVDP) was launched in March 2014 in response to the low profile and limited understanding of Independent Visitor services amongst professionals, children and young people. Since then, the project has made significant advances to improve the quality and reach of Independent Visitors for children in care.
Key achievements include: the establishment of a National Independent Visitor Network (NIVN) of local IV providers, creation of a set of National Standards for the Provision of Independent Visitor Services, delivery of three national conferences for young people, professionals and policy-makers and publication of the National IV Data Report in 2016 on the basis of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made to 152 local authorities in England (see references and link at end of the report).
Consultation with seven regional NIVN groups across England has highlighted ongoing challenges to raise the profile of and access to IV services as well as opportunities to continue to improve consistency and quality of services offered. In order to understand how access to IV has changed for children in care since the Freedom of Information (FOI) request made in 2015, we have carried out a second FOI Request.
This data report aims to show the reach of IV provision nationally and regionally and includes, for the first time, demographic information on children and volunteers involved in IV services. The report also draws on best practice examples and learning from the network to make recommendations in relation to improving and sustaining the reach, consistency and quality of IV services.
Keywords: Independent visitors; children in care; looked after children