Our trust is marking National Inclusion Week (15–21 September) by showcasing the success of its Reverse Mentoring Programme which is helping to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The programme pairs senior colleagues (mentees) with staff from underrepresented or marginalised groups (mentors), creating a safe space for people to share perspectives on identity, inclusion and barriers at work.
Since it launched two years ago, around 40 clinical and non-clinical staff have participated in the programme. A new video released this week features participants reflecting on the positive impact of the initiative, from building senior leaders’ understanding of people’s experiences across the trust to giving mentors greater confidence, visibility and a voice within the organisation.
Deepa Deo, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and who took part as a mentee, said: “The Reverse Mentoring Programme is really important to our organisational culture because if we want to be committed to treating everybody in a fair manner and an equitable manner, what is really important is that we change hearts and minds.”
Rodean Vafa, Equality Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner, said the programme was making an impact across different levels of the organisation. “For mentees, it expands their understanding of what people experience and how they may contribute to these experiences. For mentors, it’s a chance to make an organisational impact through a personal approach. For the trust, it brings us closer together and helps us work better as a team.”