Leadership and management: Coaching and Mentoring
Why is the Skills Academy focusing on coaching and mentoring?
Coaching has become increasingly valued and recognised across all sectors over the last few years. It is now widely recognised that coaching and mentoring are significant components of professional and personal development, and are a highly effective way of raising the quality and impact of management and leadership. The demand for coaching has increased as the challenges and complexities of social care managers’ roles have changed over the last few years. The Skills Academy aspires to further stimulate and extend this demand, and will aim to improve access to high-quality coaches and mentors for people working at all levels in social care.
What has been achieved so far by the coaching and mentoring programme?
We have developed a web-based resource, available by clicking on the menu at the top of this page, to provide information on coaching and mentoring. We know that many people working in the sector may not be familiar with the concepts, but believe that social care workers should enjoy the same professional development benefits as workers in other sectors. This information is available for all to access, and is also garnering interest from social care workers who would like a coach or mentor, and raising the profile of this project amongst those who would make suitable coaches themselves.
Acknowledging the importance of coaching and mentoring as a resource for the sector, the Skills Academy is focusing on the effective integration of these activities into all of our developments, programmes and projects.
What is the coaching and mentoring programme doing right now?
We are currently piloting our coaching and mentoring activity by offering each of the 20 graduates on the National Management Trainee Scheme for social care a series of 6 coaching sessions, which began in March this year. We are also developing an approved register of coaches for those working within social care, with the goal that, from this summer, anyone working in social care will have access to this register and the benefits that coaching and mentoring can provide.
What is the next step for coaching and mentoring?
We will develop a coaching offer for a pilot number of managers and/or leaders to identify case studies, testimonies, examples of best practice and improved performance. We are also researching ways to extend the use and provision of mentoring within the sector.
The Skills Academy is for all employers, and coaching or mentoring could prove extremely valuable resources for the fast-growing group of personal employers. We will develop a group of expert coaches who are users of personal budgets and services and are available to help new personal employers to negotiate this potentially intimidating area.
How can you get involved in coaching and mentoring?
As champions of coaching and mentoring we would love to hear about any good practice in this area in your own or other organisations, so please let us know if you have any examples or case studies.
If you are interested in receiving coaching or mentoring to support you in your work or you would like to become a mentor yourself and believe you have relevant experience, then contact us.
The Skills Academy will be inviting individuals to join the coach register later in the year, but you are welcome to register your interest now.
For further information, to register your interest as either a learner or coach, please call 0207 397 5629 or contact