10 requirements of the Approved Provider Standard (APS)
APS covers 10 requirements across four key areas supporting safe and effective practice in mentoring and befriending.
The four key areas of APS
Management and operation
- Does the project have clear aims?
- Is there an appropriate level of resources?
- Is there a commitment to safety of staff, service users and mentors and befrienders?
Service users
- Is there a clear process for the identification and referral of service users?
- Are the needs of the service users assessed in determining how mentoring and befriending can help?
Mentors and befrienders
- Is the recruitment and selection process for potential mentors and befrienders safe and effective?
- Do mentors and befrienders receive appropriate induction and training to provide effective support to service users?
- Is support provided to mentors and befrienders to help them develop their role?
The mentoring and befriending relationship
- Is there a clear and consistent place for matching service users with mentors and befrienders?
- Are the mentoring and befriending relationships regularly monitored to ensure progress is being made and outcomes are achieved?
