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.
Members across Wales have expressed an interest in building on this interest by being mentored or acting as peer mentors to colleagues. The WLGA is therefore committed to supporting authorities in making this happen.
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.
The WLGA is able to help authorities wishing to support members in mentoring by:
- Providing guidance on authority approaches and strategy
- Workshops for members wishing to act as mentors
- Local authority Member Mentoring strategy
- Guidance for Member Mentors
For more information contact: Sarah Titcombe