Independent Visitor

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC623329
Salary Range: £48,948 - £54,423 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary £2,790 - £3,145 per annum)
Work Location: Hockley House, Romsey or Cypress Lodge, Basingstoke (Hybrid Working)
Hours: 96 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent (Annualised Hours)
Closing Date: 15 March 2026
Interview Date: 24 March 2026

The Role:

Hampshire County Council provides residential care for vulnerable children and young people, supporting their recovery from traumatic experiences and helping them rebuild their emotional and mental wellbeing. As an Independent Visitor, you’ll play a key role in improving the outcomes for children and young people by carrying out monthly visits to your designated children’s residential home, producing detailed reports, and making clear recommendations for best practice and possible improvements. You’ll help to ensure children are safe, supported, and having their needs consistently met. Your knowledge, experience and compassion will help maintain high standards of care and make a meaningful difference to the lives of children across Hampshire.

We have two vacancies available, where you’ll support either Hockley House (Romsey) or Cypress Lodge (Basingstoke). Please confirm in your application which role(s) you wish to apply for.

What you’ll do:

• Conduct monthly visits: Complete visits at your designated children’s residential home, checking how the home and staff operate and reviewing records relating to care provision and home management.
• Collaborate with care providers: Discuss concerns or poor practice and advise on recommendations to encourage continuous improvement.
• Complete detailed reports: Record findings following visits, measuring the results of each visit against the National Minimum Standards for Children’s Homes.
• Work in the best interests of children and young people, liaising with children’s residential home and service managers, Ofsted, care professionals, children and their families.  

What we’re looking for:

• Sound knowledge of regulated services, current legislation and statutory guidance in relation to vulnerable children and young people in residential care.
• Significant experience of working with children within the social, residential, education or health care sector.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusting, supportive relationships.
• Confident with managing difficult conversations and sharing guidance on best practice to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.
• Strong report writing and good IT skills.
• Ability to travel on a monthly basis to your designated children’s residential home.

To comply with statutory regulations, Independent Visitors must be fully independent of the local authority. For this reason, employees of Hampshire County Council Children’s Services (or those living in the same household) are not eligible to apply for this role.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Independent Visitor role, team and our values.  The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Why join us?

• Rewarding work: Make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in care, knowing that your efforts can create a lasting impact and enhance their quality of life.
• Work-life balance: Flexible working, with the freedom to choose your hours around a time that suits you.
• Paid travel: Claim business travel mileage for any meetings outside your designated children’s residential home.
• Employee support: Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• Competitive benefits package: Including occupational sick pay and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.    

How you’ll work: 
This role is offered on an annualised hours contract, meaning your total working hours are spread across the year rather than following a fixed weekly schedule. You’ll work flexibly, ensuring you complete one visit and report per month. You'll be given the flexibility to decide when to conduct the visits each month around a time that works for you and the children's residential home. You’ll be contracted to work 96 hours annually, with additional hours depending on service needs and your availability.

In the event we may need you to conduct visits and reports for other children's residential homes across Hampshire to help cover absence of other Independent Visitors, we’ll aim to give you as much notice as possible to help you balance work and personal commitments, though short-notice cover may occasionally be required. We’re looking for someone who enjoys flexible working and is passionate about making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people.

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK.

Other roles you may have experience of may include: Children’s Residential Care Worker, Youth Worker, Social Worker, Senior Social Worker, Social Care Manager, Case Worker, Children’s Residential Home Manager, Children’s Team Manager, Children’s Residential Service Manager.

Travel Requirements:

You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire, and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary.

Additional Information:

Independent Visitor Candidate Pack

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Sara Rowntree, Children’s Services Performance Project Lead on sara.rowntree2@hants.gov.uk or 07596 242550