Agreement between Big Brothers Big Sisters and School
It is agreed the School (named below) will join the Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawke's Bay Partnership Programme for the purpose of matching taiohi/young people with volunteer tuakana/mentors from nearby businesses. Mentors who will collect their mentee from school one day each week and spend 1-2 hours with them before dropping them off at the young person's home. This will take place during term time only, unless prior arrangements are made and BBBS informed.
This agreement outlines the respective responsibilities of the School and Big Brothers Big Sisters for this programme. Any changes will be indicated by written amendment that is signed by both partners and attached to the original agreement.
Responsibilities of the School:
- Sign on as a BBBS Partner School and agree to be matched with local businesses
- School to inform the school community through school communications (intranet, school newsletter and social media, posters in staffrooms) and encourage referrals to the programme initially and then once per year or similar
- Assign a Kaiawhina/School Staff member to be the BBBS School Liaison.
- Determine which children will be suitable for the programme, based on information provided by BBBS, and complete referral forms provided by BBBS.
- To complete the referral form including contact details and reasons for referral, with respect to the recommendations of BBBS regarding the match, and to return the form to BBBS within two weeks.
- The school will not remove the young person from mentoring as a form of discipline, and will encourage the parents/caregivers not to do so either.
Once there are matches, the school will:
- Acknowledge each business involved in school communications to community (school newsletter/social media) at least once per year
- Allow BBBS to speak with the young people in the programme and their teacher/teacher aide for 10 minutes once per month
Shared Responsibilities:
- BBBS will create and review the profiles of young people and mentors to facilitate appropriate matches. BBBS and the School Liaison will work together to make the best matches.
- Determine a system for contacting the mentor when the young person is sick or away and for informing mentors of school holidays/teacher-only days/sports days/school trips/stand downs etc.
- Where possible all match closures should be discussed by BBBS and the School Liaison before the match is closed. BBBS are responsible for leading the match closure process.
Responsibilities of Big Brothers Big Sisters:
- BBBS will recruit, screen and train all Tuakana/Volunteer Mentors in accordance with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand National Standards of Practice, Big Brothers Big Sisters Policies and the Children’s Act (2014).
i) Completed and signed Mentor Application
ii) Police check
iii) A minimum of three Referee checks (Personal, Employer and if needed, Medical Referee)
iv) Personal Interview and Home Assessment
v) Complete Pre-Match Training (including roles and expectations, relevant School information, child abuse reporting, developing a relationship, activity ideas)
- BBBS will meet with the Parents/Whānau to fully inform them about the programme and get written consent.
- Provide all forms / information needed for the School to implement the programme.
- Introduce the Mentor and Young Person at the School during a designated time upon their first visit together.
- If requested, provide an ID card to be worn by Mentors while in the School.
- Monitor the match through regular contact with the Young People, Mentor and Parents/Whānau.
- Provide the School with periodic updates of the contact details of the Mentors.
- Inform designated School Liaison when a Mentor is unable to continue with their match.
- Any information collected on the match will be kept on file with BBBS; the purpose of this collection is to monitor the match and provide feedback where necessary. Information is confidential and is not shared with anyone without the Parent/Caregiver's permission.