Interviews and Training

• Befriender starter pack sent in response to enquiry
• Befriending Application Form sent to applicants interested in starting assessment
• 1st Interview with FUN staff (approx. 30 minutes)
• ID taken up (one photo ID & bill/bank statement etc)
• Sign befriender trainee agreement
• References (3 written ref. including one professional)
• Mandatory training (overall time approx 12 hours)
• Three Saturdays from 10:00am till 2:30pm:

             > Session 1:        Defining the role of the befriender
             > Session 2:        Listening and child protection guidelines
             > Session 3:        Policies & procedures outline and summary of key learning points

• Second in-depth interview (1½ hours)

Home Visit (allow 1½ hours)

The befriender receives a visit at home by casework staff. This is also an opportunity to meet and discuss the application with the applicant’s partners or children. The intention is to get a more comprehensive picture of the person by seeing them in their own environment. This also includes a home safety check.

Final Overall Assessment

Once the above 2 stages have been satisfactorily completed and all 3 referees have been approached then the caseworker will gather together all the information provided and make a Full Assessment of the applicant’s suitability to befriend a child with FUN in Action.

If everything is satisfactory, the applicant is made a formal offer of acceptance on the scheme subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure being received. Under our commitment to the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1074, having a criminal record will not necessarily bar applicants from working with us. This will depend on the circumstances and background of any offences.

Once this final assessment stage is completed then the applicant becomes a ‘Probationary Befriender’. The probation period lasts for six months.

Befrienders are also asked to sign a Befriender Code of Conduct Agreement Form thereby agreeing to abide by the very clear FUN in Action policies and procedures as laid down in this code. In the future if the befriender fails to adhere to this code it may be necessary to exclude them from the service.

Setting Up A Friendship

• Caseworker identifies possible children and discusses these with the Probationary Befriender.
• Befriender meets the family including the child with the caseworker at the family home.
• In some cases – particularly with a young child – the befriender will meet with the parent and caseworker alone before being introduced to the child.
• If all parties agree and are happy with the arrangements (time is allowed to ensure questions can be raised and everyone is in agreement before the friendship is confirmed) the match becomes official and the first outing is arranged.

Ongoing Support

Although the befriender is now matched their responsibility to their caseworker and to Fun in Action continues throughout the friendship. Befrienders are required to:

• Attend regular Support Group meetings and other specific training.
• Undertake regular one-to-one supervision with their caseworker.
• Keep in regular weekly telephone contact with their caseworker particularly during the first 6 months of a friendship.
• Follow-up assessments are undertaken after the first 3 months of the match and at a 6 months review.
• If everything is satisfactory the probationary period is completed. The monitoring supervision continues.

Befrienders are encouraged to participate in group outings and events to meet with other befrienders and to be part of the wider network of FUN in Action.