Evaluation of the Independent Visitor Scheme (IVS) at West Sussex County Council (WSCC)February 2017

1. Introduction The Independent Visitor Scheme (IVS) matches looked after children and young people between the ages of 8-17 with adult volunteers – Independent Visitors or IVs. IVs visit their matched child once a month and involve the child in activities which the child or young person chooses, building up a relationship and hopefully a lasting friendship with them.

The OFSTED inspection of Children’s Services at the end of 2015 highlighted lack of capacity in the IVS to meet demand. This evaluation of the Independent Visitor Scheme resulted from an identified need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme if it is to expand, from the point of view of those involved in it. Monitoring visits by the scheme coordinator to children using the service are carried out three months into a match and annually thereafter, to check that the child is happy with their IV and how the scheme is working for them, but the views of other stakeholders have never been sought systematically. The evaluation gives insight into some of the perceived highlights and benefits of the scheme for children and young people, the experiences of IVs and professionals with links to children using the service, and their views of where improvements could be made to the scheme.

2. Methodology This evaluation has been carried out by one of the Graduate Management Trainees at WSCC.

The evaluation was undertaken using a range of online surveys tailored to the different stakeholders in the scheme. Most of the measures in the surveys were quantitative (ranking scales); however respondents were given opportunities to give qualitative responses to some questions.

The first of these surveys was tailored to professionals with links to children using the service including; social workers, independent reviewing officers (IROs), foster carers and residential staff. This cohort of individuals were asked general questions about; their understanding of the scheme, the facility to access information, the matching process, communication (particularly with the scheme coordinator), general evaluation of the scheme and its benefits for looked after children, and future development of the scheme.

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The next survey was focussed towards Independent Visitors (IVs). They were asked the same general questions as the professionals in order to measure these variables from their perspective. In addition, IVs were asked to evaluate the supervision and support they received from the scheme coordinator and celebration of success, which focused on how valued they felt.

The final survey was designed specifically for children and young people on the scheme. The questions in this survey asked children and young people for their own opinions on; their visits, how they got on with their IV, getting help from their IV and the scheme in general. The survey drew on the New Economics Foundation outcomes framework for monitoring and befriending and the IV Outcomes Framework from the London IV Network Group. These tools helped to shape the survey in a way that could measure the short, medium and long term outcomes for children who are on the scheme.

Once they had been created in draft format, these surveys were presented to the IV Steering Group on 09/09/16 in order to obtain feedback from members (with IVs, a foster carer, social workers and an IRO represented). Feedback from the group was positive and provided good insights from the groups we would be targeting. One of the main changes to result from this feedback was to make the children and young people’s survey more visually appealing through the use of images.

The survey ran for just under three months in total, closing on 6 January 2017, and received 23 responses from the 30 IVs currently active, and 23 responses from professionals. Of the professionals canvassed, 27 were placement providers (foster carers or residential children’s homes), 42 were social workers (from CLA and fostering teams) and 9 were IROs. Unfortunately there were no responses from children and young people. The surveys were sent out to each group of stakeholders via an email with a link to the online survey, with two follow-up e-mail reminders to each group. Foster carers and children’s home managers, social workers and IVs were encouraged to talk to the children and young people with an IV about the survey and support them to complete it on line if they wished.

3. Results

A summary of the results overall – both quantitative and qualitative - can be seen in the attached PowerPoint slides. The quantitative results are clearly very positive. Below is a summary of the qualitative results of the survey, giving more detail about the benefits of IVs for children who are looked after as well as ideas for improvement and further development of the scheme.

3.1 Professionals

Comments about the matching process were generally positive, highlighting how individual needs are taken into consideration during the matching process and that children and their IV often have similar interests. However one respondent thought that children who have English as their first language and no additional needs had better matches than eg. unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, none of whom are currently matched with a speaker of their mother-tongue.

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The main benefits of the scheme given by respondents can be categorised into the following:

Benefit Number of respondentsIndependent/non-professional support for the child, from someone who has no agenda and is purely there for the child

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Opportunity to have fun and do interesting things, have time away from home, gives the child something to look forward to, gives the child choice

15

Provides an adult role model for the child/allows child to build a positive relationship with an adult

8

Improving social skills 5Gives the child an outlet for emotions/someone to share feelings with/confide in

5

A break for the carer/Extra support for social workers 2Broadening the outlook of young people 1 Helps build self-esteem/trust for the child 3Scheme is well managed with a good calibre of IVs 1Continuity of the relationship/ consistency where professionals move on quickly

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Good matching 2Engaging isolated young people 2Meets the child’s individual needs/flexible to accommodate the situation and needs of the child

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IVs are volunteers 1

Areas for improvement of the scheme given by respondents can be categorised into the following:

Area for improvement Number of respondentsIncrease in number of IVs 9More interesting activities to match the age of the child/Bigger activities budget to allow for better outings

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Increase in the number of children who can access the scheme/Shorter waiting list

3

More diverse range of IVs 3Specific part of the scheme aimed at unaccompanied children

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Creation of a forum to explain the scheme more and its purpose to professionals/ Increased awareness of the scheme

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Ideas for future development of the scheme given by respondents can be categorised into the following:

Area for future development Number of respondentsMore IVs 10More diverse IVs 4Possible expansion to care leavers and unaccompanied children

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Additional staff to broaden the scheme 1Better funding 2Increase understanding of the scheme 1Make the literature accessible for different groups, e.g. different languages, more use of pictures

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Have IVs that have experience working with young people

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Train IVs in anti-discriminatory practice 1Have ‘seeing an IV’ as an agenda item for CLA’s once a foster child reaches a certain age – allows the scheme to be discussed with all foster carers and children

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Make the scheme available to a wider range of people

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More publicity 1

Recommendations for the scheme The following responses were given by respondents who were asked to given an explanation for why they would or wouldn’t recommend the scheme:

o “I have seen how helpful IVs can be in practice and the unique support role they have.”

o “Yes definitely. Especially as I have sat on the (IV Approval) Panel and seen the high quality applicants coming through.”

o “From the carer's point of view it takes extra organisation and 'managing' although it can give a welcome break of a few hours. We have found that it has generally led to a disappointment - the child wants to do something that the IV (is not allowed to) do or (the budget) cannot afford.”

o “As stated previously the feedback I have received from the young people working with IVs has only ever been positive which is a recommendation in itself. They have spoken about feeling better about themselves, having fun experiences, building relationships with individuals, increasing their confidence and social skills.”

o “The experiences the young people I have seen engaged with visitors has been incredibly supportive and has an impact on their development.”

o "Our Foster Child was initially sceptical about the scheme but after meeting with the IV he has willingly gone out with him for over a year now. If you get the match right, so it doesn't feel like another adult sticking their nose into the Foster Childs life, then it does give the Foster Child an opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have. This may not happen initially but over time a good relationship has built in our experience."

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3.2 Independent Visitors

The main benefits of the scheme given by respondents can be categorised into the following:

Benefit Number of respondentsHelp, guidance and support for the child/Interest in the child’s welfare/Has the time to listen to the child

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Self-worth/Making a difference to children/Rewarding/Eye opening for IV

13

A constant friend for the child and IV/continuity in a frequently changing world

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Gives the child the opportunity to do something nice/different/fun/away from usual environment

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IVs are volunteers so they are there because they want to be 4Additional positive adult role model in a child’s life 2Regular visits builds trust/gives security/build confidence in the child/helps them maintain a relationship

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Independent from professionals and anything else 2Gets the community involved with young people in care 1Gives IV chance to meet new people 1Makes the child feel important and cared for 1Opportunity for the child to talk through concerns 1Scheme is well set up and supported by professionals 1Time commitment is manageable for IVs 2Stretches boundaries and builds the child’s confidence 1Helps with transition to adulthood 1Break for the foster carer 1

Ideas for improvement or future development of the scheme given by respondents can be categorised into the following:

Area for future development Number of respondentsMore promotion of the scheme to increase understanding and awareness

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More communication between social worker, IRO, foster carer and IV - the team around the child

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Shorter and sharper training 1Training more IVs/More resources 2Interactive meeting working in groups 1Invite a care leaver to speak at meetings 1Reduce the amount of admin and paper work – pre-populated online forms would be better

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Recommendations for the scheme The following responses were given by IV respondents who were asked to give an explanation for why they would or wouldn’t recommend the scheme to potential volunteers:

o “I believe it is easy to fit into anyone's life; it is not a huge commitment but is incredibly rewarding and really makes a difference to a young person's life.

o “I love this role, it brings me so much satisfaction knowing I am supporting my young person.”

o “(It can be done) any day of the week. One of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I'm the only person not paid to see (child’s name) and I think he really appreciates having someone to do stuff with, talk to and work through stuff with”

o “It is very rewarding and a privilege to develop a relationship with a young person, particularly one who may be in need. It provides a challenge to keep our ideas current and deepens understanding of the issues for young people today.”

o “If someone is looking for an opportunity to do voluntary work with children but they have irregular, busy lives, being an IV is a perfect way to contribute.”

o “I find the scheme fulfilling and enjoyable and I feel appreciated by the young person I am matched with. This is based on the way the match is conducted and how the relationship is established by the IV coordinator. The activities are fun and I have freedom to pick things that are enjoyable and inspiring for the young person.”

4. Conclusion and Next Steps Response rates to the surveys varied. The majority of IVs on the scheme responded, but the number of professionals completing the survey was rather low with the exception of IROs. The lack of any response to the children and young people’s survey was disappointing. However some possible reasons for this have since been considered including; children not having access to the internet, children not wanting to complete the form in the presence of an IV; and children already having to complete a large number of surveys. An alternative method would be for the scheme coordinator to use the survey during routine monitoring visits, gathering data over the course of a year. The possibility of a student social worker assisting children and young people to complete the survey, either on-line or in paper format, is being actively explored.

Overall the survey results were very positive. They generally demonstrated a high level of satisfaction with all the areas measured (highlighted above). In particular, the evaluation highlighted the benefits of the scheme to children and young people – as observed by professionals working with them, as well as by their IVs - in giving them the opportunity to have experiences they would not otherwise have and exposing them to a positive adult role model with whom they can talk freely. The evaluation highlights the need to improve awareness of the scheme among professionals and for there to be a far greater number of IVs plus appropriate staff support to befriend the many children who would benefit from having an IV.

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Appendices

Appendix A – PowerPoint Presentation of Results Summary

Appendix B – Summary of Survey Results

Appendix C – Example Surveys

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