Job Introduction
Hampshire County Council provides residential care for vulnerable children and young people, supporting their recovery from traumatic experiences and helping them rebuild their emotional and mental wellbeing. As an Independent Visitor, you’ll play a key role in improving the outcomes for children and young people by carrying out monthly visits to your designated children’s residential home, producing detailed reports, and making clear recommendations for best practice and possible improvements. You’ll help to ensure children are safe, supported, and having their needs consistently met. Your knowledge, experience and compassion will help maintain high standards of care and make a meaningful difference to the lives of children across Hampshire.
What you’ll do:
- Conduct monthly visits: Complete visits at your designated children’s residential home, checking how the home and staff operate and reviewing records relating to care provision and home management.
- Collaborate with care providers: Discuss concerns or poor practice and advise on recommendations to encourage continuous improvement.
- Complete detailed reports: Record findings following visits, measuring the results of each visit against the National Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes.
- Work in the best interests of children and young people, liaising with children’s residential home and service managers, Ofsted, care professionals, children and their families.
What we’re looking for:
- Sound knowledge of regulated services, current legislation and statutory guidance in relation to vulnerable children and young people in residential care.
- Significant experience of working with children within the social, residential, education or health care sector.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusting, supportive relationships.
- Confident with managing difficult conversations and sharing guidance on best practice to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.
- Strong report writing and good IT skills.
- Ability to travel on a monthly basis to your designated children’s residential home.
To comply with statutory regulations, Independent Visitors must be fully independent of the local authority. For this reason, employees of Hampshire County Council Children’s Services (or those living in the same household) are not eligible to apply for this role.
To learn more about this role, please review our Candidate Pack available on our website. Please click on the Apply button for details.
Why join us?
- Rewarding work: Make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in care, knowing that your efforts can create a lasting impact and enhance their quality of life.
- Work-life balance: Flexible working, with the freedom to choose your hours around a time that suits you.
- Paid travel: Claim business travel mileage for any meetings outside your designated children’s residential home.
- Employee support: Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
- Competitive benefits package: Including occupational sick pay and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
How you’ll work:
This role is offered on an annualised hours contract, meaning your total working hours are spread across the year rather than following a fixed weekly schedule. You’ll work flexibly, ensuring you complete one visit and report per month. You'll be given the flexibility to decide when to conduct the visits each month around a time that works for you and the children's residential home.
You’ll be contracted to work 96 hours annually. Occasional cover may be required in the absence of other Independent Visitors. We’re looking for someone who enjoys flexible working and is passionate about making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people.
Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.
Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK.
Other roles you may have experience of may include: Children’s Residential Care Worker, Youth Worker, Social Worker, Senior Social Worker, Social Care Manager, Case Worker, Children’s Residential Home Manager, Children’s Team Manager, Children’s Residential Service Manager.
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
