Mentoring : HDN Mentoring Programme 2011/2012

HDN Mentoring is made up of a series of Mentoring Classes and one-to-one mentoring sessions. The 2011/12 programme will include 4 Mentoring Classes in groups of 12-15 people, backed up by 5 sessions of one to one mentoring, and a Mentoring Conference, spread over the period September 2011 - June 2012. Mentors are drawn from within the sector and provide support and leadership for the leaders of tomorrow. The Mentoring Class sessions will provide skills training and a lively forum for networking and information sharing. Separate mentoring sessions will be tailored towards the needs of individual mentees.

In addition four Mentoring Classes facilitated by housing professionals will cover key topics.

The objective of mentoring is to enhance performance, both in terms of the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and the speed at which they are acquired. The role is to supplement rather than to replace the role of the line manager and to advise and facilitate on how to handle problems and situations, particularly formal obstacles and those relating to a person's gender, culture, age or disability.

Benefits to Organisations and mentees
Involvement in HDN Mentoring can allow housing organisations to develop staff potential and overcome barriers to career progression. It can also help to demonstrate adherence to regulatory and statutory requirements to improve diversity within the organisation and in improving services to a diverse customer base.

How HDN Mentoring is managed
HDN employs two regional mentoring co-ordinators based at our offices in West Yorkshire, Eugene Pinnock and Kamaljit Urwin.  The East region is facilitated by Gill Cook, HDN Associate.