Mentor Plus scheme details
The Mentor Plus scheme provides newly appointed directors of children’s services (DCSs) with a mentor. The table below provides more information about the stages involved.
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial contact |
Once the Virtual Staff College is informed of a new DCS’s appointment the College’s mentor co-ordinator will offer the newly appointed DCS a mentor. An optional needs analysis process is available for new DCSs that can be completed by self-assessment or with their mentor. |
| Matching process |
In matching mentors and mentees, the mentor co-ordinator will take account of the identified needs and preferences of the mentee, which may include the following factors:
The mentor co-ordinator will seek to offer up to three potential mentors to the new DCS. Selection should, wherever possible, be by positive preference, accepted without question and with no explanation or reason required on the part of the new DCS. To assist in the pairing process, both mentees and prospective mentors will be asked to provide summary information about their professional background, current span of responsibility and any special interests. |
| Mentoring |
The mentor and mentee make contact, complete needs analysis if appropriate and agree monthly mentoring sessions for at least the first six months, with phone and email contact between meetings. The Virtual Staff College will provide induction and, where appropriate, training opportunities for mentors in order to ensure that all mentors within the scheme are accredited. The scheme provides for eight mentoring sessions over a period of up to twelve months with the expectation of monthly meetings being offered during the first six months of appointment. |
| Evaluation |
The mentor and mentee reflect on the mentoring experience throughout the process and send individual reports to the mentor co-ordinator. At the conclusion of the mentoring arrangement both submit individual final reports to the mentor co-ordinator. The mentor co-ordinator will provide feedback to the mentor and will discuss the options for ongoing support for the mentee. |