Being detained by Police or Customs can be a frightening experience for young people, especially if their parents are unavailable or unwilling to be present. For this reason, Childline Gibraltar started an Appropriate Adult Service for children and young people in 2008.
Becoming an Appropriate Adult means that you would be safeguarding the welfare, interests, and rights of children, who are detained or interviewed as suspects, and ensure they understand what is happening to them and why. This is by ensuring that they are treated in a fair and just manner and can participate effectively in the interview process.
When an Appropriate Adult is required to support a young person, they act as an independent third party to provide special assistance to the detained young person(s). In most cases the Appropriate Adult present is, an adult who is known to the young person, a parent, guardian, or carer; but when the vulnerable child does not have an adult who is able or willing to be there, a Childline Appropriate Adult volunteer will attend at the request of the Royal Gibraltar Police or HM Customs. The RGP and HM Customs value the positive and crucial contribution our volunteers make to the effective running of this service.
Access to legal advice is available to the detained child by way of the Duty Solicitor, details of which can be obtained from the Custody Sergeant, and Appropriate Adults can also access legal advice from Childline’s own independent Solicitor.
The service operates on a 24/7 rotational basis, 365 days a year. Specialist training is provided to our AA volunteers as well as ongoing support.
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 Volunteer Support Groups and attend in-service training. These sessions provide new learning opportunities; a forum for discussions, continuing professional development 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.
