Accreditation - qualifications and training

National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Mentoring and Befriending

MBF in conjunction with Skills for Justice are undertaking a project to develop a Functional Map for mentoring and befriending in the Voluntary and Community Sectors. This will then lead into the development of National Occupational Standards and a vocational qualification for the mentoring and befriending of offenders. The aim is to have developed these by the end of February 2010.

A Steering Group and Project Working Group have been set up to enable practitioner involvement and to ensure that what is produced is robust and fit for purpose.  For more information on the project and how you can get involved in the Project Working Group and/or take part in the consultation process please see the project information brief below.
Mentoring and Befriending Project Information Briefing - May 2009 (PDF)
A project page has also been set up on the Skills for Justice website www.skillsforjustice.com/template01.asp?PageID=665

Background to the project

In 2008, MBF circulated a survey to organisations seeking views of about the development of a national award/qualification structure for mentoring and befriending.  Over 700 scheme co-ordinators and volunteers responded to the survey indicating the strong level of interest in this issue.
  • 97% of coordinators who responded said they supported the development of an award for volunteers and scheme coordinators.
  • 87% of volunteers said they were currently unable to achieve a qualification with 81% saying they would be interested in achieving a qualification if one was available.
As a follow up to that survey, MBF approached a number of the Sector Skills Councils to discuss the development of a national award for mentoring and befriending. Skills for Justice invited MBF to complete an occupational mapping of the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the provision of mentoring and befriending services for offenders. This report paved the way for Skills for Justice to secure funding with MBF's support to develop a functional map, NOS and vocational qualification for volunteers working in the sector.

Contact Details

For further information or to register interest in being a member oif the working group, please contact:
Emma Dove - Workforce Developent Adviser
emma.dove@skillsforjustice.com
Tel. 0114 231 7251
Steve Matthews - Chief Executive, MBF
steve.matthews@mandbf.org.uk
Tel. 0161 787 3831