Mentoring
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled”
Plutarch
Mentoring is a relationship between two individuals based on a mutual desire for development towards career goals and objectives. The relationship is a non-reporting one and it does not replace the organisational structures in place. It is separate to and different from other forms of development, including training, secondment and coaching.
Mentoring in NHS Grampian is provided through a variety of routes including:
- the internal Mentor Bank – where mentoring is provided by NHSG staff;
- the North East Learning Collaborative (NELC) Mentor Bank – where mentoring is provided by a member of staff from one of our public sector partner agencies in the North East;
- the NHS Education for Scotland peopleconnect Mentor Portal – where mentoring is provided by staff from across the public sector in Scotland.
For more information visit the intranet page here or view the Mentoring Bank Leaflet here
(Please note that intranet links can only be accessed on NHS Grampian computers)
What are the Objectives of Mentoring in the Workplace
Mentoring is a developmental partnership through which one person shares their knowledge, skills, information and perspective to foster personal and professional growth in another.
An effective mentoring relationship is a:
- learning opportunity for both parties;
- means of supporting individual learning and development;
- a supportive relationship which helps to increase an individual’s competence and confidence;
- a clearly structured, time-bound and self-managed process with clear, mutually agreed roles and goals.
A typical mentoring relationship usually lasts around 12 months with meetings taking place every four – six weeks during that time. However the frequency and length of meetings is agreed between the Mentor and Mentee in line with what they believe will be most useful in meeting the objectives of the Mentee.
Who May Access Mentoring At Work
Any member of staff may apply for mentoring. As mentoring takes place during the applicant’s normal working hours, applications for mentoring must be supported by the applicant’s line manager.
How is Mentoring Accessed?
To access mentoring through the internal Mentor Bank you first need to complete and submit an Application for Mentoring Form, which can be downloaded from the Organisational Development page of the NHSG Intranet. Once this has been submitted you will be contacted by a member of the Organisational Development Team to assess your suitability for mentoring and propose a mentor match. Mentor matches can be made at any time.
To access mentoring through the North East Learning Collaborative (NELC) Mentor Bank you first need to complete and submit an Application for Mentoring Form, which can be downloaded from the NELC Website. Once this has been submitted you will be contacted by the NELC Mentoring Co-ordinator propose a mentor match. Mentor matches are usually made on an annual basis.
To access mentoring through the NHS Education for Scotland peopleconnect Mentor Portal you first need to create a Mentee profile on the peopleconnect portal www.peopleconnect.scot.nhs.uk You will need an Athens password before you can create your profile. If you do not have an Athens Password you may apply for one on the peopleconnect site. Once you have created your profile you will receive a list of potential Mentors who match your criteria – you can then choose who from this list you wish to contact to explore developing a mentoring partnership.
For further information about accessing mentoring to support performance in the workplace, please contact Fiona Soutar, Organisational Development Manager:
Email: fiona.soutar@nhs.scot