Missing Children - Return Interview Volunteer - Hart & Rushmoor

This role will involve a Volunteer making contact to arrange interviews with children and young people who return from being missing, within 72 hours of their return.

When a Hampshire child or young person goes missing from their care home or foster home, Children's Services will, upon their return, offer them an interview. Guidance states this interview should be done by an independent person (not a social worker or other professional already involved with the child). 

 Return interviews need to be completed within 72 hours of a child’s return from missing. Meetings may take place in a variety of settings including: the child’s home, foster care address, residential care setting, or other agreed local venue.

Return interviews are an important part of safeguarding and can help to put things in place to make sure children do not go missing in the future.

A volunteer coordinator who works to support local volunteers will liaise with volunteers to make arrangements for the return interview to take place.

Could you train to become a volunteer interviewer?

Following full training and with ongoing support volunteers will contact and arrange interviews with children and young people who return from being missing within 72 hours of their return. Interviews may take place at the child's foster care address, residential care setting or other agreed local venue.

The Volunteer will:

Receive the details from the volunteer coordinator about the return interview.

Contact the child/family to make arrangements for the interview.

Meet the child/young person to conduct the interview and complete the standard form.

Agree any follow on actions with the child/young person/family/carer.

Feedback and return the completed interview form to the volunteer coordinator.

Some children who go missing will be placed outside of Hampshire, if volunteers are willing and able they will conduct return interviews for these children. All expenses will be paid.

Because these are one off pieces of work, the time commitment for this opportunity is flexible volunteers can opt to give a couple of hours as and when, or a fuller commitment.

Skills

Full training and support will be provided therefore previous experience is not essential.

We are seeking volunteers who feel able to:

Establish good relationships within a short space of time, to communicate and ensure children and families, with varied levels of ability, understand information and feel able to respond.
Listen and remain calm and impartial when dealing with families.
Record information.
Respect differing views of individuals and work in a non judgmental way.
Respect confidentiality and the agreed information sharing process.
Have the confidence to report concerns to their Volunteer Coordinator.
Be able to describe their role and maintain professional boundaries.

Roles are based across the Hart & Rushmoor area therefore access to own transport is desirable.

Volunteers must be 18+.