If so, volunteering as an Appropriate Adult with Childline Gibraltar could be right for you.
Being detained by the Police or Customs can be a frightening and overwhelming experience for a young person, particularly when a parent or guardian is unavailable or unable to attend. Recognising this need, Childline Gibraltar established its Appropriate Adult Service in 2008.
As an Appropriate Adult, you play a vital role in safeguarding the welfare, rights, and interests of children and young people who are detained or interviewed as suspects. You help ensure they understand what is happening, why it is happening, and that they are treated fairly, respectfully, and justly, enabling them to participate effectively in the process.
Appropriate Adults act as an independent third party, providing essential support to vulnerable young people. While this role is often filled by a parent, guardian, or carer, there are times when no suitable adult is available. In these situations, a Childline Appropriate Adult volunteer attends at the request of the Royal Gibraltar Police or HM Customs. Both services value the positive and crucial contribution our volunteers make to the effective and ethical delivery of this service.
Young people have access to legal advice through the Duty Solicitor, arranged by the Custody Sergeant, and Appropriate Adults can also seek guidance from Childline’s own independent Solicitor, ensuring robust support at every stage.
The service operates on a 24/7 rotational basis, 365 days a year. All Appropriate Adult volunteers receive specialist training, alongside ongoing guidance and support throughout their volunteering journey.
By volunteering as an Appropriate Adult, you can be the calm, trusted presence a young person needs at one of the most difficult moments of their life.
Candidates should:
- Be prepared to learn new skills.
- Commit to a minimum of two shifts a month.
- Ideally have experience with children, either at work or through family & friends.
- Be interested in helping young people and be non-judgmental/tolerant.
- Not have a criminal record and be willing to undergo a Police Check.
How To Apply?
- Interested applicants can email info@childline.gi to request an application form or complete an Online Application Form.
- Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview.
- Successful applicants will be required to complete a RGP Police Vetting Form.
Minimum Requirements to volunteer:
The interview is informal & the interviewers will:
- Ask you questions about yourself and your experience.
- Answer any questions you may have and discuss the services provided by Childline Gibraltar.
Successful applicants will be notified and invited to attend the next training programme.
What Is Included in the Training Programme?
We are an associate member of the UK National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN), and we offer comprehensive training approved by NAAN, which covers the following areas:
- Child Protection – child protection and safeguarding, child abuse and the signs and symptoms of abuse, assessing the risk of significant harm to a child, child protection agencies and their role in supporting children suffering from abuse.
- The role of an Appropriate Adult – including – receiving a callout, police processes in custody, child’s rights and entitlements, legal representation, interviews, and searches.
Volunteering as an Appropriate Adult
The shifts for an Appropriate Adult are either from 8am-6pm or 6pm-8am 365 days a year. We ask that Appropriate Adults are on call for two shifts (of their choosing) per month.
Supporting the Appropriate Adult
Appropriate Adults are required to participate in continuing professional development training 3 times a year. These sessions provide new learning opportunities; a forum for discussions, and are necessary to ensure best practice.
Childline Gibraltar is aware that, volunteering as an Appropriate Adult can be stressful and difficult at times and is therefore fully committed to providing adequate support to their volunteers.
