Job Description

Are you passionate about ensuring the voice of children and young people are heard? Are you committed to advocating that children and young people's rights are upheld? Do you believe that all children should receive consistently high-quality care in environments that strive to improve outcomes for each child? Do you have experience in social work, education, inspection, advocacy or residential childcare management?


Then we have an exciting opportunity for a professional like you.

The Vacancy

The Independent Monitoring Service is seeking to recruit professionals with experience of working with children and vulnerable adults to the role of Independent Visitor.


The role of Independent Visitors is to provide visiting services on behalf of NYAS which are consistent with the National Quality Standards for Children's Homes, Residential Special School Standards, Welsh National Minimum Standards, Health and Social Care Standards Scotland and CQC regulations. The main duties are:


To undertake monthly visits to identified homes in accordance with the requirements of the relevant NYAS manager.

These visits will be:


Regulation 44 visits to residential children's homes, short breaks and secure units.


Regulation 25 visits to residential family centres.


Care Quality Commission visits to residential adult homes.


Care Inspectorate Wales regulation 8 visits to residential children's homes.


RSS20 visits to residential special schools.


Health and social care standards Scotland residential children's homes.


Monitoring visits to unregulated provision.


To undertake all tasks as identified by the relevant NYAS manager, during the visits and thereafter, in order to fulfil all aspects of the role. To provide factual reports within set timescales as required by the relevant NYAS manager.

For more information, please view the contract delivery specification. If you have any questions prior to applying, please contact recruitment@nyas.net

About You

Candidates should have demonstrable knowledge and understanding of regulated services and their inspection frameworks and also knowledge of current legislation and statutory guidance relating to children, young people and adults at risk particularly those in residential care.


Candidates must have experience of working within a social or health care organisation, safeguarding and experience of managing complex relationships across a diverse field, e.g. OFSTED inspectors, social workers, residential care workers and registered managers, health care professionals.


Candidates should also possess a professional qualification in a related field, i.e. social work, residential care, health care professional, advocacy or youth work.

Please note:

We ask all applicants to complete the application form in full, as it is designed to ensure we can assess your skills and experience consistently across all candidates. While we welcome CV submissions, they are considered supplementary and will not be used for scoring purposes. The application form is essential for us to fairly evaluate your qualifications and ensure we understand your experience in relation to the specific job requirements. Incomplete applications may not be considered.


You will also be required to complete annual safeguarding and compliance including, Personal Safety, Data Protection, Information Security, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity. You will be able to subscribe to an e-learning platform provided by NYAS. The platform will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a number of other professional courses that you can complete in your own time to maintain your own CPD. You can do this on the e-learning platform at a significantly reduced cost compared to undertaking each course individually with different providers.


In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.


This is a self-employed position and you will be paid a sessional rate.


We reserve the right to close this vacancy early once we receive a high number of applications.

About NYAS

As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.


We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.


We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.


NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.


Work with us to help change young lives.