The Children Acts 1989 and 2004 stipulate that a Local Authority has to appoint an Independent Visitor (IV) for any child they are looking after if the Authority thinks it would be in the child’s best interests. An Independent Visitor is a volunteer who is independent of social care services, and they are there to visit and to ‘befriend and advise’ the child. This service also provides a Children’s Rights and Advocacy Service for Children in Need, Children subject to Child Protection Plans, Children in Care and Care Leavers.

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