Become a lay visitor

What is a lay visitor?

Lay visitors are volunteer members of the public who assist the Council to ensure care homes are safe and suitable for residents. As a lay visitor, you will share your views on the quality of care and the happiness and comfort of residents.

Alongside more formal inspections, you will have an important role to play in making sure that our older residents are being looked after and treated with respect and dignity. We are looking for lay visitors from diverse backgrounds so we can be sure care homes are meeting everybody’s needs.

How to get involved

If you are interested in becoming a lay visitor in Lewisham, please contact contractsteamduty@lewisham.gov.uk with the subject ‘Lay Visitor’.

Do I need any special skills or experience?

As a Lay Visitor, you will need to be empathetic, have good communication skills, and have time to prepare for and report on your visits. Experience of interacting with frail older adults or an understanding and interest in older people’s lives is beneficial but is not essential.

How will I be supported?

We will provide you with training, and you’ll shadow an experienced Lay Visitor initially. You will be given guidance on the areas to observe and engage with and specific training on how good care homes operate.

What happens on a care home visit?

• a Council officer will accompany you on all your visits
• you will speak to residents, their families, relatives and friends
• you will observe how staff engage with residents
• your independent report will contribute to the Council’s formal report on the care home

Other important information

• we will give you at least two weeks’ notice before a visit
• visits are most likely to be on weekdays between 9am and 5pm
• the Council will reimburse reasonable travel costs
• you cannot visit care homes where you work or have a relative/family member