The New Approved Provider Standard
Your questions answered.

What is the Approved Provider Standard [APS]?

APS is a quality award for mentoring and befriending projects. It was developed by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation [MBF] in England.

How is APS changing?

As a result of a review undertaken in 2008, MBF have decided to launch a new version of APS.

Along with some other changes, the new standard will be assessed by a visit from an external assessor and will have a charge attached.

What is BNS' response to these changes?

BNS will develop its own quality award for befriending projects instead of administering the revised version of APS in Scotland.

Why did BNS make the decision to develop a new quality standard for its members?

The outcome of the MBF review of APS has convinced BNS staff, our Board of Directors, and an external Quality Assurance Consultant that we can best serve our members and continue to improve practice in befriending by developing and implementing a new quality standard for befriending projects in Scotland. This decision has not been taken lightly and has also been made in consultation with our funders, the Big Lottery. The primary reasons for this move are:

  • we want to give projects that complete the intensive process of applying for a quality standard more comprehensive feedback on their application and their practice than the MBF model requires
  • further, we would like the quality award we endorse to specifically help projects plan their own development
  • BNS is about to launch its revised Code of Practice for Befriending Projects and we are concerned that there are some discrepancies between some of the fairly general standards set out in APS and the more specific recommendations made in our new Code of Practice
  • similarly, we would also like the quality standard that BNS endorses to link up more closely with other BNS services and resources (eg the Vital Skills in Befriending training course)

How will BNS develop the new quality standard?

We have set up a working party involving BNS staff and a member of our Board of Directors.

We will also consult with an advisory group of people who work throughout the voluntary sector in the field of quality standards. We are also currently considering buying in some consultancy from the Charities Evaluation Service.

When will the new standard be launched?

We anticipate that the new standard will be launched by the summer of 2010. Members will be kept informed via NetGain, the BNS website (www.befriending.co.uk) and email.

What will be involved in applying for the new quality standard for BNS members?

As we are at the beginning of the development process, we can't answer this question in full at the moment. We anticipate, however, that the work involved will be similar to that currently required by APS. It also seems likely that we will be able to continue to offer the standard for free.

How will BNS ensure that the new quality standard is recognised as being of value by funders, referrers and other stake holders?

BNS will promote our new standard once it is launched to ensure that it is widely recognised as a mark of quality. We are investigating what would be involved in having the new standard endorsed by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. (OSCR does not offer a similar service but has no objection to us pursuing the possibility of Charity Commission support.)

Will funders, referrers and other stake holders still recognise APS as valid once the new standard is launched?

APS will continue to be recognised as a valid award for befriending schemes in Scotland. BNS will make funders aware of these changes and their implications – if you want us to communicate directly with your funder about this, please let us know.

My project has already been awarded APS and is due to apply for reaccreditation during 2009. What do these changes mean for me?

If your project wants to remain accredited, you should apply for APS reaccreditation using the existing processes by the date that your current award expires. The APS reaccreditation guidance notes and application form can be downloaded from the Standards page on the BNS website, under How to Apply.

If your application for reaccreditation is successful your award will be valid for 3 full years, as before. There may be some new, minimal annual monitoring of APS approved projects required by MBF and BNS will carry this out.

When your accreditation expires again (ie in 3 years time) you will be required to apply for the new BNS standard if you want your project to continue to hold a quality standard award.

Alternatively you can let your APS accreditation lapse this year and instead apply for the new BNS standard when it is launched.

My project has already been awarded APS and is due to apply for reaccreditation in January, February or March 2010. What do these changes mean for me?

You have two choices:

  • Apply early for reaccreditation under the current APS system. The last date you can submit your application is 31st December 2009. If you are successful your accreditation will be valid for 3 full years. There may be some new, minimal annual monitoring of APS approved projects required by MBF and BNS will carry this out. When your accreditation expires again (ie in 3 years time) you will be required to apply for the new BNS standard if you want your project to continue to hold a quality standard award.
  • Alternatively you can let your APS accreditation lapse when it is due for renewal early in 2010 and apply for the new BNS standard when it is launched instead.

My project has already been awarded APS and is due to apply for reaccreditation in April 2010 or later. What do these changes mean for me?

Your APS award will continue to be valid for the 3 full years from the date of award (as on your certificate). When your current APS accreditation expires you will be required to apply for the new BNS standard if you want your project to continue to hold a quality standard accreditation.

For a very few projects whose accreditation expires in mid 2010 this may mean that there is a matter of a few months when you are not able to hold an accreditation. If this might cause any problems for you (eg with your funders), BNS will be happy to send them a statement explaining the situation.

My project is currently registered with BNS as Working Towards APS. What do these changes mean for me?

The last date your project can submit an application for the current Approved Provider Standard is 31st July 2010. (However, as your project is already registered as Working Towards, your eligibility to apply will expire before this date anyway unless you apply for and are granted an extension.)

If you decide to proceed with applying for APS and are successful, your award will be valid for 3 full years, as before (and BNS will complete any new, minimal, annual monitoring as may be required by MBF). Once your accreditation expires, you will then be required to apply for the new BNS standard if you want your project to continue to hold a quality standard accreditation.

If you feel that you will not be able to complete your APS application within this timescale or would rather apply for the new BNS standard, you should deregister as Working Towards APS and enrol for the new standard when it is launched (we anticipate that this will be by summer 2010).

My project was planning to apply for APS next year, what do these changes mean for me?

You can register now as Working Towards APS. The last date you can submit your application will be 31st July 2010. (See advice for projects which are already registered as Working Towards APS, above.)

If you want to submit an application for a quality standard accreditation any time after 31st July 2010 you will need to apply for the new BNS standard when it is launched.

Will my project be able to apply for the revised version of APS instead of the new BNS quality standard?

The revised APS will be administered solely by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation in England. Our understanding is that the new APS will therefore only be available to projects based in England. Please contact MBF for further information: www.mandbf.org.uk.

What is the planned timescale for these developments?

  • 31st December 2009: Last date that projects whose current accreditation expires any time before 31st March 2010 can apply for reaccreditation under the old APS system after this date, projects will have to wait and submit a full application for the new BNS quality standard if they want to hold an accreditation.
  • Summer 2010: New BNS quality standard for befriending projects launched.
  • 31st July 2010: Last date that any projects which are registered as Working Towards APS can submit an application for the old version of APS after this date both projects seeking reaccreditation and projects seeking an award for the first time will have to submit a full application for the new BNS quality standard.

How can I find out more about the new quality standard for BNS members?

Keep checking the Standards pages on the Befriending Network Scotland website. These pages will be updated with new information as soon as it is available.

BNS will keep its members informed via our newsletter (NetGain) and new e-newsletter. We will also send out updates via email and letter as appropriate. If you have a specific question which is not answered anywhere else, please contact Martha Lester-Cribb, Quality Officer: quality@befriending.co.uk.