Training Principle 5: Stability and Continuity by National Independent Visitor Network

Share your resources!

ivnetwork — 2023-08-31 13:38:56 UTC

A space for all boundaries-related links/resources/content, following on from our TP5 review session on 06/09/23.

This Training Principle is: Independent Visitors understand the long-term requirement of the role and commit to build a trusting, positive relationship with a child over time.

Learning Outcome: Independent Visitors understand the long-term requirement of the role and commit to build a trusting, positive relationship with a child over time.

As well as sharing the link/resource, please share what you use it for and what IV scheme you're from.

Simon Heyes Devon to inform training

simonheyes — 2023-09-06 10:30:54 UTC

This is some slides that inform my training around stability and need for continuity

Jennie Massey- Jake's Story

2023-09-06 10:53:49 UTC

The golden thread of stability and continuity

ivnetwork — 2023-09-06 11:35:34 UTC

A lot of members in this TP5 session shared that they felt that stability and continuity was an important thread that should be fed through advertising/recruitment, dealing with initial enquiries/applications/interviews, training, matching and beyond. There was a lot of focus on making those interpersonal connections with IVs to get a sense of their values, priorities and passions - which can be done through interviews, face-to-face and online training, check-ins and supervisions. Many members also shared that they encourage volunteers to be transparent and honest - if they want to leave/stop volunteering, then they can and should be made to feel safe enough to share that to prevent 'ghosting'. IVC's gave examples also of being available to volunteers for as and when check ins also.

The loss activity - shared by Sarah Javes in Sheffield

ivnetwork — 2023-09-06 11:37:47 UTC

IVs are given five bits of paper on which they write five really important things in their life (people objects, places). the IVC will then go around the room and take one off of them. A discussion follows around the impact that this has. When the IVC removes things, they change the scenarios: 1. The IV will never see that thing again. 2. The IV might see it again but they have no control over if that happens. 3. The IV will be able to see it but never be able to fully have it.

Gingerbread man activity devised by young people - shared by Alison in York

ivnetwork — 2023-09-06 11:42:57 UTC

Participant are given a template of a gingerbread house/person and asked to write down on the template things in their lives that are important to them.

The trainer asks how would they feel if you'd lost half your belongings and you'll never see them again? Participants are asked to tear the gingerbread man in two. After this, young people come in and share similar experiences with the volunteers. Trainer can then facilitate further discussion and reflection on the impact of loss with the trainees.

Note: this can be adapted to run without youth participation. Key steps:

o IVs are given a template of a gingerbread person/house on which they write things in their lives that are important to them.

o Gingerbread template is then broken up bit by bit by the IV trainee

o Young people/trainer ask IVs – how does it feel to lose parts of yourself?

o This is then linked to the young people’s personal experiences of loss/rejection/upheaval

Youth voice

ivnetwork — 2023-09-06 11:43:57 UTC

Lots of members noted that it's much more impactful when young people or even IVs can come in to training and talk about their experience of having an IV, or maybe even of losing an IV - to bring this aspect of training to life for the volunteers and get them to empathise and fully understand the importance of the IV role. Several members invited CiCC to a training session.

Checking in with volunteers

ivnetwork — 2023-09-06 11:45:25 UTC

It seemed really important to members that they had a good relationship with volunteers and were able to offer support sessions/drop-ins/times for the volunteers to come and talk about what's going on or if anything's worrying them. Some members used feedback forms for this purpose, or a handbook.

2023-09-06 12:14:59 UTC

Lucy's Diary is to be used with a group of IVs each taking 1 or 2 roles on and standing up whilst talking and the person delivering the training being Lucy - I am going to add a bit about and IV suddenly stopping with no explanation so we can discuss this