All RCN representatives, stewards, safety representatives or learning representatives, are supported by their branch team which includes RCN Eastern region staff and other local representatives.
The RCN recognises the importance of building on initial representative role preparation training as part of an ongoing learning process to develop and enhance knowledge and skills in the workplace. Mentorship is designed to help representatives to practice competently and confidently to promote the strategic and operational work of the RCN Eastern region, to serve the needs of our members and promote increased membership.
Within RCN Eastern region we offer a diverse range of mentorship opportunities to supplement RCN national events:
- one to one interactions with other representatives and the regional staff
- joint working with RCN officers and assistant officers and also other local representatives.
- county conferences - this is a key event and one we hope all reps make a particular effort to attend
- locality meetings
- specialist training events for stewards, safety representatives and learning representatives
- specialist topic training for all representatives.
We are also rolling out the RCN representative mentorship programme. It is a standards-based instrument which links the representative role descriptors and the representatives portfolio of learning. Initially this programme is being operated with newly qualified representatives and will be extended to include all representatives over time. RCN representatives can access the relevant information and documentation via RCN mentorship resources, where there is detail on:
- an overview of the RCN mentoring framework
- RCN mentoring relationship standards
- the RCN mentorship development programme
- lifelong learning in practice - achieving practice standards
- the mentorship contract and toolkit
- strengthening working partnerships
- RCN representatives' practice standards.
At a recent training session Eastern region future activist representatives learnt how to structure and maintain a portfolio with confidence and competence to enhance their work and activist role.
Learning representatives Juliet Muzawazi said she had found the day very helpful: "We shared information on how to gather evidence on a daily basis."
Steward Sharon Turner said: "...simplifying or demystifying the mentorship document a great exercise and getting other activists opinions very helpful."
Steward Lee Yarwood thought the day informative and interesting: "'It allowed me to have a voice in reshaping the generic mentorship standards for future representatives."
Safety representative Caroline Green said: "lt was useful to have a mix of new and experienced representatives as I felt so much could be learnt from the experts."
Any RCN representative who wishes to discuss his or her mentorship should contact their local RCN officer or assistant officer, as should any RCN member who is interested in becoming an RCN representative.