The association of black psychiatrists (ABP-UK) and the RCPSYCH introduction to mentoring and coaching: Impact of a training program

Abstract

Aims. The study aimed to check impact (active mentoring and willingness to mentor) following a mentoring and coaching training event facilitated by RCPSYCH and ABP-UK. The program involved watching two pre-recorded videos and a full-day practical session on mentoring and coaching skills. Methods. The training was targeted at psychiatrists of black heritage, working in the UK. They were recruited through social media adverts and emails sent to members of the organization. A predesigned questionnaire assessing feedback about the program and mentoring activities was sent to the emails of attendees immediately after the program and a year later. Results. Forty-four participants attended the program; 32 completed the feedback immediately after the program, and 20 responded to the one-year follow-up. From the initial survey, majority of respondents (78%) rated the program as excellent, and most (78%) found it relevant to their professional needs. Slightly more than half of the group (53.1%) were involved in mentoring, but only a few (6%) were involved in mentoring activities within a structured organization. Ninety-seven percent felt confident to mentor immediately after the program while 84.4% expressed interest in joining a college division for mentoring. In the follow-up data with 20 respondents, 60% were involved in mentoring and 23% of respondents were new mentors. More respondents were engaged in college-related mentoring (41.7%) than in the previous year and majority (83.3%) expressed that the program had influenced their mentoring. Conclusion. Results from the follow-on survey shows that a good number of attendees at the training event had taken up mentoring roles at local, regional levels and at the College. We therefore recommend continued rollout of more targeted mentoring and coaching training programs, with consideration for cultural needs. This will boost the availability of diverse mentors within mentoring schemes available for doctors, ultimately improving quality of care to our diverse patients.