Volunteer Independent Visitors
Durham County CouncilAn approved team location., North East
Overview
This is a local council role (please see advert text, please see advert text) with Durham County Council based in An approved team location.. The advertised salary is N/A. Applications close on 31 December 2026. GovJobs has indexed this vacancy from its official source — use the apply button to view the full advert and apply directly.
Job description
Children and Young People's Services Early Help, Inclusion and Vulnerable Children Youth Justice Service
Volunteer Independent Visitors CYPS/26/018
Some children and young people who are in care have little or no contact with their families. They live in a children’s home and may have moved among numerous foster carers, or could be looked after by a family member or friend. The young people see independent visitors as adult friends who support them through difficult times. You may support them to join a sports team, or take them to activities such as the cinema, cycling, bowling or dog walking. You will provide a listening ear and, in many cases, offer a long-term support to the young person.
We are looking for volunteers from all walks of life who have some free time to offer a child or young person.
Requirements: To be an independent visitor you must be over the age of 18. You must be as independent as possible form Social Services, and for this reason must not work for Children and Young Peoples Services or be an elected member of the local council.
No formal education or qualifications are needed, although some personal qualities are required. You will need to have an active interest in the welfare of children, a flexible attitude and be resilient. Above all, you need to be reliable and committed to visiting your child or young person regularly.
For more information please contact Mark den Hollander at mark.denhollander@durham.gov.uk or call 07584 345947.
The successful applicants will be required to apply for a Disclosure & Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
Volunteers undergo a comprehensive induction training package, and an interview before an appointment is offered. Mileage/expenses are paid.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise the value of difference, having a diverse talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and can provide support throughout the recruitment process, for more information please refer to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion page on our website.
How this role compares
There are 4,945 council roles open across the UK on GovJobs right now, 555 of them in North East.
You have 123 days left to apply. Council adverts we hold typically run for around 26 days, so this is a longer window than usual.
Durham County Council has 62 other vacancies open on GovJobs, with a breakdown of what they pay and the kinds of roles they recruit for.
These figures are calculated from the vacancies GovJobs currently holds, not from official pay statistics. They are a guide to the market, not a valuation of this post.
How to apply
GovJobs does not take applications or send your details to the employer. Use the apply button to open the official Northeast Jobs advert, then check the employer's instructions, attachments, person specification and closing time before applying.
This listing was last checked on 28 Aug 2026, 15:09. If the official advert has changed or closed, report it and we will review the listing.
Why this listing is on GovJobs
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The source for this role is Northeast Jobs. Applications stay on the official employer or source website, not on GovJobs.