The Pave Project Report - Queen's University Belfast

The PAVE Project Report 57
Recommendations:
Based on our findings, services could be categorised as befriending if they include
the following:
1. A selection process to identify befrienders;
2. some level of training for befrienders, either appropriate professional training or
in-service training;
3. regular supervision of befrienders, including accountability to service provider
(group);
4. meetings between befriender and service user that are planned and scheduled;
5. availability of befrienders to meet with service users usually on a regular basis
(weekly/monthly); although occasionally once off meetings can be considered
befriending;
6. availability of befrienders to visit service users in their homes;
7. availability of befrienders to help service users with practical things, e.g., form
filling;
8. befriender’s ability of referring service users to other agencies or services if
required;
9. befriender’s ability to set certain boundaries with the individual in order to avoid
creating dependency;
10. user feedback.