Information for mentors

 

Mentoring is a professional relationship between two colleagues. 

Its history stems from Greek Mythology - it is reported that Odysseus, when leaving for Troy, entrusted the education of his son Telemachus to his friend, Mentor.  According to Whitmore (2017), Odysseus said to Mentor "Tell him all you know".

 

Research shows that Mentors also gain the following from the process of mentoring:

    • Enhanced coaching, listening and modelling skills 

    • The satisfaction of sharing your knowledge and experience and seeing a colleague develop 

    • Enhanced personal communication and educational skills 

    • Enhanced team- work  

    • Improved self- awareness 

    • Enhanced personal work performance 

    • Sense of being needed and valued 

    • Opportunity to develop and practise personal style of leadership 

    • Opportunity to put something back into the community or to contribute something to others in organisation 

    • Gain additional recognition and respect 

    • Opportunity to exercise creativity and best practice 

    • Learn new perspective and approaches 

    • Extended professional/community networks 

    • Experience in dealing with challenging situations 

    • A new focus and interest 

 

Types of mentor 

To assist you and your mentee having a good working relationship, we would like to allow you to elect areas where you are particularly experienced and interested in supporting.

For example, someone may like to have a mentor who was an international medical graduate (IMG), so they have experienced the same challenges of moving to the NHS. If they are returning to work after a period of absence, they may like a mentor who is aware of the challenges of prolonged time of work- either through sickness, maternity or paternity leave or other reasons. A peer mentor is someone of a similar grade to their mentee.

 

Skills and Qualities of a good mentor 

 

Selection Requirements

Requirements Relevant to the Mentoring Role

Essential

Requirements Necessary for Safe and Effective Performance as a Mentor

Demonstrates a positive attitude and acts a positive role model

 
  • Understanding of the mentoring relationship
  • Identification of Specific Behaviours associated with mentoring and /or Understanding of the challenges faced by a mentee who is returning to training
  • Understanding of actions to support mentees in achieving a goal

Takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship
  • Ability to build rapport with the mentee  
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Good communication skills

Willingness to share skills, knowledge and expertise
  • Interest in developing others
  • Willingness to share personal values and/or own experience of returning to training for the benefit of the mentee
  • Committed to own learning and the learning of the mentee
  • Demonstrate a willingness to fulfil their mentoring commitments

Exhibits Enthusiasm
  • Demonstrate where you have made a difference to another person

Experience of Motivation Others
  • Identify how you were required to motivate others

Values on going learning and growth as a mentor
  • Identify the role of CPD and how it contributes to individual success

Agreement of line manager/HoS/TPD/Educational Supervisor to attending mentoring programme
  • Support from DME/SuppoRTT Champion or Educational Supervisor

 

How to apply to be a mentor 

  • If you have already completed one of our mentoring courses or similar, please complete the expression of interest form or email england.mentoring.sw@nhs.net

  • If you have not had prior training, please click on the courses tab to find our next list of course dates. 

  • We require a short Bio for each mentor to support the matching process. 

This page was last updated June 27th 2024 (6 months ago)