Format of the Mentorship

• Most mentorships comprise the following activities:
• First contracting meetings
• Regular review meetings
• Recording meeting outcomes
• Maintenance of learning log
• Recording and reviewing achievements
• Reviewing the ongoing relationship
• Ending the relationship
• Evaluating the relationship

Optimising Mentoring Meetings

At the first meeting (contracting meeting), following introductions and rapport-building, a framework will need to be mutually agreed to cover the format, frequency and duration of future meetings (review meetings). The first meeting will confirm the mentee’s initial development objectives and immediate goal(s), agree mutual expectations and help clarify both parties’ roles from the outset; covering issues of confidentiality, boundaries, style of mentoring, and how/when you decide to contact each other outside of arranged meetings.

Ongoing review meetings should have a clear structure, usually as follows:

• Establishing the specific tasks or topic(s) for discussion e.g. progress since last meeting, or a new development need the mentee has identified.
• Clarification and exploration of the issues raised, from both parties’ perspectives.
• Objectives and tasks identified and agreed for future action