Independent visitors

If you’re a young person in the care system you might like to have an independent visitor (IV).

IVs are all volunteers; they’re just normal people who understand and get on with young people and have offered their time to be a friend to you. 

Our IV’s are chosen carefully to make sure they’re fun and that you’ll feel comfortable and safe with them. 

If you would like to find out more about the IV scheme you can speak to your social worker, carer or email the IV Coordinator at independentvisitorsinfo@barnsley.gov.uk.

Other young people tell us they really like having an IV, we hope you will too!

Getting an independent visitor

Any young person who's living in care can have an IV if it's in their best interests. If you’d like an IV, you can tell us the sort of person you'd like and we’ll try and match you with one you’ll get on with best. 

We've a limited number of volunteers though so some people might be higher priority than others. You'd be higher priority if:

• You've had a lot of placement moves.
• You're about to have a big change in your life.
• You don’t see your family very regularly.

We'll always try and link you up with the right person. But if things don’t work out just let us know and we'll sort it out.

Meeting your independent visitor

You'll probably be introduced to your visitor for the first time in your foster or residential home. After that you'll decide together where and when you'd like to meet to fit in with both your lifestyles. Visits are usually a few hours once a month.

When they visit they'll listen to you, chat about stuff and spend time doing things you both enjoy. They’re also someone you can talk to if you want advice or have any worries or problems.

All our IV’s are checked and trained to make sure you'll be safe when you're with them. They won’t give your information out without your permission. They don’t write reports, but they do record basic details of your visit. Things like where you went and what you did. They do have a duty to keep you safe. To do this, there are some things they need to pass on, such as if you or somebody else was being harmed in some way.

Your IV can carry on meeting you until you're 21, or 25 if you opt in for further support via Future Directions. We also hope that your IV will be able to visit or keep in touch with you, even if you've moved or after you've left care.