The term mentoring is normally used to describe a more informal relationship in which a range of issues are explored, including:
- change issues,
- reflection on past issues,
- discussion on general issues,
- advice and so on.
Your mentor will probably be a senior colleague or peer from the health or social care sector who can bring their experience into the relationship, which might be quite long term. It is probably helpful to have a mentor that understands the health and social care management environment and who can give advice and guidance and understand your context.
Nevertheless, increasingly, good mentoring adopts some of the principles of coaching - including avoiding advice giving when possible and appropriate. Mentoring is normally free. This site is NOT geared towards mentoring at the moment - we will be developing something for that in the near future.
The IHM offers an e-learning element on mentoring, or you can find out more from:
http://www.managementhelp.org/
http://www.coachingnetwork.org.uk/
http://www.slfscotland.com/
