The role of the elected member is a complex and challenging one. All members, from the newly elected to the more senior and experienced, need support and development in reacting to new or personally challenging situations. Authorities provide a range of essential support and development activities, but these cannot always cater for some of the individual and immediate needs of members. Mentoring is another approach within the opportunities that members have for development which can meet these needs. It is gaining popularity across the UK as organisations and individuals see the emerging benefits.
Members have traditionally made informal mentoring arrangements amongst themselves, sometimes with the support of officers or political groups in facilitating this. Some members have taken advantage of the training provided by the Association with the LGIU in 2003 to build their mentoring skills.
Members across Wales have expressed an interest in building on this interest by being mentored or acting as peer mentors to colleagues. The Association has therefore included a commitment to helping members and authorities make this happen as part of the National Member Development Strategy.
What is Mentoring?
Mentoring is a confidential relationship where a mentee works with a mentor to explore issues or situations where they need support or development. The mentee sets the agenda and takes responsibility for their learning within the relationship. The mentor helps the mentee to learn through asking questions and sharing their experience without being too directive, and enables the mentee, through discussion, to learn new information, or discover their own solutions to challenging situations.
The following are just some examples of when members could find mentoring useful:
- as a new member getting to “know the ropes” coping with time management, workload challenges or understanding political and officer relationships;
- as an existing member taking on a new role such as that of leader, chair, portfolio holder or champion;
- when facing a particular political, community or leadership challenge;
- when needing to build new skills such as community engagement or media relations;
- when considering a change of role or wishing to advance in a political career.
An Approach for Wales
We intend to work with members, officers - through the Member Support Officer Network - and political parties, in Wales, to create a cohort of members who are trained in mentoring skills. They can then work with mentees from their own authorities either informally or as part of an approach supported by officers, or with members in other authorities, through a matching process facilitated by the Association. We aim to have mentors in place by spring 2007 appropriately experienced to assist new members following the elections in 2008, following their induction.
To make sure that mentors are appropriately skilled, training will be provided in mentoring skills and techniques. Prospective mentors will also be guided in applying the appropriate protocols which guide a mentoring relationship such as confidentiality, and non prescriptive advice. Mentees will also be provided with guidance on how to get the most out of the relationship.
Practical Guidance for members wishing to act as mentors is available here (LINK TO GUIDANCE FOR MEMBER MENTORS DOC)
For more information or arrange training in your authority contact sarah.titcombe@wlga.gov.uk
For more information contact: Sarah Titcombe