Topic outline

  • General

  • Online Mentoring Development Programme - Autumn 2021

    About this course

    This practical programme has been run successfully for many years for the Association of Anaesthetists by Coaching and Mentoring Consultants, an established provider of Mentoring Training in the NHS.

    The online programme retains the distinctive elements which have made the face-to-face programme such a powerful learning experience.

    The programme develops mentoring skills which can be used both in formal mentoring and also in a range of leadership and clinical situations with staff, colleagues and patients. It aims to develop participants’ abilities to enable others rather than prescribe solutions. Developing these skills can be both challenging and rewarding for those whose professional culture is that of expert helping.

    Participants:

    • Understand what mentoring is and isn’t
    • Develop a working knowledge of one framework for mentoring: Egan’s The Skilled Helper model (2010)
    • Practise and develop their mentoring skills
    • Consider how to use the model and skills appropriately at work

    There is a mixture of taught inputs, demonstration by tutors, small group skills practice, group discussions, and pairs work. Participants spend a significant proportion of time practising skills. They work with a facilitator, learning from the roles of mentor, mentee, and observer. Participants bring real issues to discuss in the mentee role: there is no ‘role playing’. Reflective practice is expected between sessions. Practical and professional issues arising from mentoring are discussed and participants are encouraged to plan how they will take forward the skills back at work.

    The tutor team is Julia Pokora and Dr June Smailes. Also contributing will be Dr Nancy Redfern and Dr Robert Self from the Association of Anaesthetists, and Dr Diana Jolliffe. The Programme handbook, Coaching and Mentoring at Work (Connor and Pokora 2017) is co-authored by Julia, and is a best-selling text in its 3rd edition.

  • Dates and session information

    The programme will run for four sessions as below

    • Session 1: Wednesday 13 October  
    • Session 2: Friday 15 October
    • Session 3: Tuesday 9 November    
    • Session 4: Tuesday 14 December

    Each session will run from 9:00 until 15:30.

    >> Please click here to access the Zoom meeting

    Prior to the first session, please check that your Zoom video and audio is working well on as large a screen as you have access to: mobile phones are not recommended. Try to avoid any backlit settings to improve the video image, and find a private location where you will not be interrupted and practice sessions cannot be overheard. We suggest you join at 8:55 to establish your connection.  

    • Become a mentor

      Mentoring others through challenges and opportunities can be a rewarding experience.  

      The Association is always looking for volunteers to become part of our mentoring scheme. Find out more about the scheme and how to apply to become a mentor.

      The Association mentoring scheme

      The Association's mentoring scheme allows anaesthetists interested in having a mentor or receiving coaching to access a team of trained mentors throughout the country.  

      This is a voluntary scheme for both mentors and mentees, with services being provided free of charge.

      All Association mentors are expected to either have attended our 4-6 day training course (link), based on Gerard Egan's 'skilled helper' model or have the equivalent experiences and qualifications.

      Applying to become a mentor

      If you agree with the above please fill out our application form and return it to members@anaesthetists.org


      • Delegate evaluation survey

      • Materials and pre-reading - Session 4

      • Materials and pre-reading - Session 3

      • Materials and pre-reading - Sessions 1 and 2

        You will need a copy of Coaching and Mentoring at Work: Developing Effective Practice by Mary Connor and Julia Pokora, Open University Press 2017, 3rd edition. Please read chapters 2 and 6 before the programme starts.