Setting up a mentoring scheme

What is mentoring?

The basis for effective mentoring is the establishment of a developmental alliance between the mentor, the mentee and the mentee’s organisation.  Although there are plenty of examples of informal mentoring relationships, it is increasingly recognised that there is a benefit in encouraging people to develop more formal and explicit mentoring relationships, i.e., working to an agreed “contract”.

What Salomons can do for you

We have experience in supporting the setting up of inter- and intra-organisational schemes.

Our experience, reinforced by research*, suggests that for a mentoring programme to be successful the following needs to be in place:

• Commitment and understanding of the rationale for the programme and the desired outcomes for the organisation and individuals involved.
• Competent mentors who understand their role and responsibilities.
• Mentees who feel empowered to use the relationship effectively.
• Clear contracting between mentors and participants including review mechanisms and an opportunity to terminate the relationship.
• A climate of trust and confidentiality within the relationships with no possible conflicts of interest between the two parties.
• A real partnership between the client in the organisation and the external provider to ensure the programmes are fully integrated into the organisation and promoted appropriately.
• A clear project manager to provide a focus for the initiative and a source of advice and support for those involved.

*Mentoring in practice guide, CIPD, 1999

For an initial conversation please call our team on either 01892 507696 or 0141 548 8140 or email ask@salomons.org.uk