Independent Visitors for children in public care: a mixed-methods case study of purpose, policy and practice in social care

Jones, Rebecca 2025. Independent Visitors for children in public care: a mixed-methods case study of purpose, policy and practice in social care. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This study explored the policy of providing Independent Visitors (IVs), volunteer befrienders, to children in care in England and Wales. It examined how this statutory requirement has been implemented over time, exploring its purpose and value within the contemporary children's social care (CSC) system. A mixed-methods case study approach, combining ‘Q’ methodology with semi-structured interviews, captured the perspectives of professionals (n=34), children and young people (n=20), and supporting adults (foster carers and IVs) (n=28). Drawing on Flyvbjerg's Applied Phronesis, the research foregrounds context-dependent knowledge to understand the purpose, value, and potential of IV support. Findings suggest IV relationships are highly valued but conceptualised in different ways by stakeholders, with no archetypal model of support emerging. The policy's primary purpose today is providing trusting relationships with supportive adults outside the care system. However, the significance of these relationships varies substantially based on young people's broader support networks and previous care experiences. For some, IV represents an additional relationship within a strong support network; for others - particularly those who are socially isolated or have had negative care experiences - IVs can become a core source of support. This research challenges conventional approaches to policy evaluation in CSC by showing how the IV policy's development has been characterised by practitioner-led adaptation rather than deliberate design. The policy's flexibility and resistance to standardisation emerge not as weaknesses but as essential features that have allowed it to remain relevant despite significant system changes. The findings contribute to our understanding of how policies that do not lend themselves well to outcomes-based evaluation can be understood and evaluated using phronetic approaches. It offers insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the role of non-professionals in supporting children in care and the importance of tailored, responsive approaches to meeting their needs.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 May 2025
Last Modified:	04 Jun 2025 11:08
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178570

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