#66: Mastering Mentorship - Unlocking Benefits, Finding Start Points, and Sustaining Practice
OVERVIEW
In this episode of the So You Work in Aged Care podcast, the second in our community care series, we look at the topic of mentoring and supervision – what it is, the benefits it offers, where we can find this kind of support and how to maintain it.
Mentoring and supervision can support you in your role, both emotionally and in terms of your knowledge and skill set. The guidance might not necessarily come from senior staff or team leaders within your organisation – it can come from a range of external sources too.
It may be a compulsory requirement of your role or professional registration, or it could be something you seek out and undertake voluntarily in a specific area of interest. Feeling supported via mentoring and supervision also helps to alleviate fear and stress in the workplace, and improve emotional wellbeing.
KEY TOPICS
What are the benefits? [7:07]
Speaking to a mentor or supervisor provides a valuable opportunity to access non-biased support from someone who has more experience in your area of interest. Formal supervision can be focused on a specific skill set or it can be an emotional aspect of the workplace, such as death and dying. It can also come from someone outside of your profession who can help to broaden your knowledge. It often leads to feelings of empowerment, as you are able to discuss sensitive topics or situations where you may feel vulnerable, without the fear of ramifications.
Where can you find a mentor? [09:17]
When looking for a mentor, there are many options. It could be someone from inside your workplace or organisation, or it could be someone from a different company or industry association. You can search privately, by posting on LinkedIn or other forms of social media. Putting your interests out there for others to see can also lead to new connections and open up opportunities.
Maintaining the practice [10:32]
Once you find a mentor or supervisor, it’s important to maintain the practice. Aim for a regular catch up, this could be monthly, bi-monthly or bi-annually depending on your needs, circumstances and funding. A relationship with a mentor or supervisor is beneficial at all stages of your career. To this day, I practice what I preach and still maintain my relationships with mentors and supervisors, not only as a requirement of my registration, but also because it helps me to reflect and grow.
What is trending [12:36]
In a recent survey I conducted amongst my network of aged care workers, I asked the question: Do you feel like you are given sufficient support to deal with workplace death and dying? While there was a mix of yes and no, overwhelmingly the majority expressed that it was not common and they had little to no support available to help them cope with the death of a resident. Not every person will need support, however there are many who would benefit, particularly when the death has happened suddenly. Mentoring or supervision around the topic of death in the workplace could be one beneficial way to support the emotional wellbeing of those who work in aged care.
CONNECT
COMING SOON
Resilient Worker – new workshop coming soon
Our new workshop will cover the burning issues affecting aged care workers today. Head to our website to find out more – Resilient Worker
