BSG Mentoring Programme GuideDear all,

I am delighted that the British Society of Gastroenterology is launching the second year of the formal Mentoring Programme and this year it is open to all medical members. Feedback from our current mentors and mentees has been highly positive reflecting that the aims of the programme to develop, support and share expertise have been successfully met.

If you would like the opportunity to develop, increase your skills, improve your performance and productivity and progress your career as either a mentor or mentee then read on.

We would welcome applications from all medical members of the BSG to be mentees or mentors, from trainees to senior clinicians/academics. It is really important to us that we have a diverse range of people across the membership. Each successful mentee will be matched to a mentor and have the opportunity to access regular mentoring sessions (face to face or distance), over a period of 1 year.

The project team consists of BSG members and staff and we are working in partnership with Developing People International.

Yours sincerely

Dr Cathryn Edwards MA (Oxon) D.Phil FRCP BSG President

Introduction to the BSG Mentoring ProgrammeIf you are wondering whether mentoring is for you, consider the views of Atul Gawande1 who considers the question of how do we improve? Atul has found what he believes to be the key: having a good mentor to provide a more accurate picture of our reality, to instil positive habits of thinking, and to break our actions down and then help us build them back up again. "It's not how good you are now; it's how good you're going to be that really matters" Gawande says.

Mentoring is a key development intervention that passes on experience and provides support from colleagues to those at an earlier stage of their career. BSG wants to provide this membership benefit to further develop practitioners to be able to deliver excellent outcomes for patients.

Here are the benefits that we want to achieve through this programme: Mentees will develop and learn from the experiences of others in the BSG, so we are

capitalising on the knowledge and experience in our community. Mentees get career guidance and support to help them with the challenges they can

face especially at transitionary stages. Mentees get support to increase their productivity, performance, happiness and

wellbeing. Mentors learn from their mentees as well as developing new skills in coaching,

mentoring, communication and leadership. There is CPD accreditation for the training and the mentoring and supervision meetings.

Mentees’ individual development goals are met. These could be related to career development, work life balance, developing leadership skills or many other areas.

Mentees develop a wider network of influence and a mentor to champion them. Mentees’ engagement and motivation increases. Mentees will also get CPD for the mentee training and the mentoring meetings. Mentors benefit from the satisfaction of developing their colleagues and passing on

their knowledge, skills and expertise.

Who should apply?MentorsWe are looking for registrars, senior nurses and consultants across the different levels who want to share and support others in their development and growth. There are a number of skills you will need to be an effective mentor. We will provide the training, all you need is a willingness to develop the following: Self-awareness Emotional intelligence and advanced communication skills Interest and capability to develop others Understanding of others and the drivers of behaviour/performance

1 Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, is a surgeon, writer, and public health researcher

Conceptual modelling (providing models and processes to solve problems) Building relationships Good judgement and ability to help others make decisions Commitment to own learning.

MenteesThe programme is directed towards medical members at transitional phases of their career, so we encourage anyone whether they are a trainee or a consultant or a nurse at whatever level (e.g. those considering significant career/life changes including retirement) but all applicants will be considered based on the development objectives they want to achieve. Here are some examples of what you could cover in the mentoring relationship: Working out a career path that suits your needs, strengths and interests. Transition successfully from registrar to consultant or nurse to sister. Transition successfully from new consultant to a more experienced consultant or to a

senior nursing position. Transition successfully back from maternity leave. Transition successfully into retirement. Develop skills to manage time, prioritise and create a better work life balance. Develop skills to lead and manage people and projects. Increase ability to influence others and build relationships. Increase your productivity as a researcher and get published. Be able to deal with challenging patients who are dealing with difficult persistent

symptoms or facing a debilitating prognosis.

What we will need from you?Mentors An interest in mentoring and the learning and development of yourselves and others. A desire to build your listening, questioning, coaching, leadership and emotional

intelligence skills. A commitment to 2 mandatory one day training workshops that are CPD accredited (unless you have had other relevant training). A commitment to 1 mandatory reflective practice supervisory phone meeting with other mentors. To meet with your mentee for an initial face-to-face meeting. To meet with your mentee (either virtually or face to face) every 4-6 weeks for 1-1.5 hours over 1 year. To provide feedback about the programme to help our continuous improvement cycle.

The dates for this training are: Day One either 10-5.30pm Thursday 5th September in Leeds or Friday 27th September in London. Day Two either 10-5.30pm Thursday 14th November in London or Friday 15th November in Leeds.

Day Three (Refresher Course) London, date TBC.

Mentees An interest in developing, learning and building skills. Open to feedback, suggestions and having their thinking challenged. Able to commit to the following:

o A half-day workshop to prepare you to get the best out of the mentoring relationship. Dates are Friday 6th September in London am and pm sessions and Thursday 26th September in Leeds am and pm. You will need to attend either a morning or afternoon session either in London or Leeds.

o A face to face introductory meeting with your mentor, where the expectation is that the mentee travels to meet their mentor.

o Meetings (either virtually or face to face) 1-1.5 hours every 4-6 weeks for 1 year.o Provide feedback about the programme to help our continuous improvement cycle.

The Application and Matching Process Mentors will fill in a pen portrait application form for the project team to ensure

suitability. These pen portraits will be collated and published on an area of the BSG website only

accessible to members to enable potential mentees to read. Mentees will fill in an application form choosing 3-5 mentors they would like to work

with. The BSG mentoring project team will match mentors to mentees. If mentees cannot have the mentors they have selected, the project team will contact

them to discuss other potential mentors. Mentors and mentees will be contacted to let them know who they will be working with. If mentors or mentees are unsuccessful based on our selection criteria (too many

applicants, weight of learning objectives of mentee, selecting a range of members from across BSG, or not finding a good enough match) they will be notified by the project team.

We will endeavour to match mentors and mentees based on the following:o The mentee’s choice of mentors.o The proximity of mentees and mentors.o Whether mentees and mentors have a preference for meeting face to face or virtually.o The objectives of mentees compared with the mentor’s skills and areas of experience.

Training and Support for MentorsTo ensure that mentors have the right level of support and training to be effective mentors, we will provide input and experiential learning across the programme. This training will both build skills as a mentor and provide mentors with the opportunity to be mentored through the exercises. These skills are ones that will also increase coaching and leadership competencies. There is CPD accreditation for all training. Getting Started as a Mentor: 1-day workshop prior to starting the mentoring relationship.

Diving Deeper into Mentoring: 1-day workshop 8 weeks into the programme to build on skills, get more support covering areas such as helping mentees with their career development and work life balance.

Telephone supervision with a consultant from Developing People and 2 other mentors to share experiences and review the mentoring sessions.

Online portal with key resources.

Training and Support for MenteesTo ensure mentees are prepared and know how to get the most out of the mentoring relationship there will be a half-day workshop at the beginning of the programme. In this workshop mentees will be taken through a process to define areas of development and create meaningful and SMART2 development objectives that will form the basis of what they cover in the mentoring relationship.

There will be telephone support from a consultant from Developing People (the training provider we have partnered with) for mentees if they are facing challenges or do not want to continue with the mentoring relationship.

There will be an online portal with key resources to help support mentees.

Evaluation of the ProgrammeWe want to provide a programme that delivers great benefits for both mentors and mentees. To do this we will evaluate the process and the outcomes of the mentoring programme. We will get quantitative and qualitative feedback from mentees and mentors to allow us to operate a continuous improvement cycle.

DiversityWe are committed to equality and diversity and want to attract a broad spectrum of mentees and mentors across our membership. We will keep this in mind at every stage of the selection process. We want a wide range of members to apply so please do!

Key DatesMentor Application Form Deadline Mon 1 July 19Mentees Application Form and Mentor Pen Portraits Available on website

Mon 8 July 19

Mentee Application Deadline Mon 22 July 19Mentees and Mentors contacted to confirm mentee/mentor or informed if not matched

Beginning of August 19

Training for Mentors (Day 1) Please put one of these dates in your diary as your attendance is mandatory

Either 10-5.30pm Thursday 5th September in Leeds or Friday 27th September in London.

Training for Mentees (Half Day) Dates are Friday 6th September in

2 Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely

Please put one of these sessions in your diary as your attendance is mandatory

London am and pm sessions and Thursday 26th September in Leeds am and pm.

Mentoring Relationship Begins Beginning of Oct 19Training for Mentors (Day 2)Please put one of these sessions in your diary as your attendance is mandatory

Either 10-5.30pm Thursday 14th November in London or Friday 15th November in Leeds.

Supervision Virtual Sessions in groups of 3 mentors with consultant from Developing People (D.P.)

6 months after start

Telephone support for mentees with consultant from D.P.

As required

Duration of Mentoring Relationship 1 year

Evaluation of Programme and Circulation of Findings Interviews with randomly selected mentors and

mentees Survey for all mentors and mentees to complete

Nov 20’

How to find out morePlease go to the members’ area of the BSG website or email the project team on BSGmentoring@bsg.org.uk

The Project TeamDeveloping People International (a training and development consultancy) have partnered with BSG to provide this programme. To ensure the programme is tailored to BSG, Developing People are working with BSG members Penny Neild, Elspeth Alstead, Laura Blackburn, and Alenka Brooks and BSG staff Carol Wolrich and Marcia McKnight. If you would like more information or have any questions do email BSGmentoring@bsg.org.uk