Mentoring
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a process in which a more skilled or more experienced person (Mentor), serving as a role model, educates, encourages, advises and befriends a less skilled or less experienced person (Mentee) for the purpose of promoting the mentee's professional and/or personal development. Mentoring functions are carried out within the context of ongoing, supportive relationship between the mentor and mentee. This relationship is all important.
- There is a high degree of trust and mutual regard
- The mentor helps another person what s/he aspires to be
- The mentor helps the mentee to realise his or her potential
What is the Scope of Mentoring?
Mentoring is primarily about learning and development.
A mentor can help a mentee to:
- Understand the workings of the course, the Medical School, the University and the Health Service.
- Develop an open, flexible attitude to learning and development.
- Understand different and conflicting ideas.
- Overcome setbacks and obstacles.
- Gain knowledge, skills and behavious appropriate to personal and professional development.
- Develop values consistent with safe and effective medical practice.
What are the Benefits of Mentoring?
- Mentee benefits by developing confidence, learning more effectively and quickly and acquiring new perspectives. Has gateway to seeking help when s/he needs it.
- Mentor benefits by acquiring improved ways of working with people and satisfying the desire to help others. Set culture of lifelong learning and governance.
- Both Mentor and Mentee benefit by developing a wider perspective on their organisation and work.
- The Medical School benefits by having more motivated and effective learners.
- The University benefits by having more fulfilled, committed, resourceful and motivated students.
- The Health Service benefits by having more supported and resourceful students.
- The patient/public benefit by having more confident, resourceful and responsive clinicians.
Mentoring in Practice
For the 2007/2008 academic year the mentoring is open to 1st and 2nd year students.
The minimum time suggested is 1 hour per term, though the time involved will vary depending on the mentee's needs.
Confidentiality is crucial, secrecy is inappropriate. All activities should be carried out by agreement.
The whole mentoring system will be reviewed each year to improve the service to our students.
