NIVN is an independent platform for Independent Visitor (IV) service providers, care-experienced children and young people and statutory befrienders (IVs) in England and Wales. NIVN launched in 2014 to address low levels of access to IVs and inconsistent quality of IV provision. Through influencing and good practice development work, we aim to increase levels of access to high quality statutory befrienders for care-experienced children and young people.
NIVN was hosted by Barnardo’s national children’s charity from 2014 to 2024 with funding from the Tudor Trust and Barnardo’s.
NIVN has a Steering Group and network of IV peer support and good practice groups across six regions in England and a single group in Wales. Representatives from the IV peer support groups come together to discuss emerging themes, take forward practice development work and feed into Steering Group strategic decisions and planning.
From 2015, NIVN will enter a transitional period led by the Steering Group, to explore and progress incorporation of NIVN as an independent legal entity and develop an income generation plan. If you would like to support this process please contact nationalivnetwork@gmail.com
Our Achievements to date
- Developed a set of National Standards to benchmark and drive improvements to practice
- Established good practice regional groups in England and Wales
- Launched our own national website
- Influencing the Government’s Independent Review of Social Care in England to bring about a consistent, long-term offer of Independent Visitor support for children in care and care leavers
- Created a set of nationwide Training Principles and a self-audit tool to quality assure IV induction training
- Created compelling digital media content and launched the Right Friend Campaign
- Generated opportunities to engage care-experienced children, young people and IV volunteers in the network
- Produced the National Independent Visitor Network Data Report 2022
NIVN in three words...
At out programme closure event, IV professionals and members of NIVN good practice and influencing community, created a ‘word cloud’ together to describe the network. Supportive, collaborative, friendly, helpful, impactful and informative were the key words chosen. Behind this graphic, is over a decade of collaborative work building regional communities of peer support and learning for IV professionals across England and Wales. Stepping into a new decade, these groups and collaborative relationships are the foundations for our future success.
