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Plusone Mentoring Programme. YMCA Scotland. Today’s Session . Explore what mentoring is Understand Plusone Mentoring Learn about the steps involved in setting up a mentoring project Take part activites. Paired Activity. -Introductions -Experiences of having a mentor. Group Activity.
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Plusone Mentoring Programme YMCA Scotland
Today’s Session • Explore what mentoring is • Understand Plusone Mentoring • Learn about the steps involved in setting up a mentoring project • Take part activites
Paired Activity -Introductions -Experiences of having a mentor
Group Activity -Feedback from pairs - Skills and qualities needed to be a mentor? What is a mentor?
Plusone Mentoring • Plusone Mentoring is a best practice intervention aimed at supporting and engaging vulnerable young people aged 8-14 who are at-risk of entering the criminal justice system. • It reflects an early intervention approach, working with the young person at a critical time to divert them away from negative pathways. • Plusone programmes recruit and train 20 volunteer mentors who are matched with young people to help build their confidence, skills, resilience and achieve personal goals. • Plusone definition of a mentor: ‘ An adult from the community with an interest and ability to engage with a young person on a voluntary basis; to help the young person to achieve their goals’ • Key points: voluntary engagement, equals in the relationship, no caseload.
Plusone Mentoring - BACKGROUND • 2009 Pilot Projects- Bellshill, Perth & Kinross, Kirkaldy • Associate Directors of Social Work and Violence Reduction Unit • Need for early-intervention • Achievements and Outcomes • Replication
Referral Criteria • Aged 8-14 years old, at-risk of entering the criminal justice system • First time offender or at-risk of offending / on the cusp of offending • At-risk of offending, identified by existence of multiple risk factors: • a) Disruption or disengagement at school • b) Offending, aggressive or anti-social behaviour • c) Conflict in the family/home • d) Substance misuse • e) Lack of positive adult role model • f) Associations with anti-social peers • g) Weak community ties
Referrals activity • In groups look at the 4 different case studies. • For each case study: • Identify the issues in the young person’s life • Using the referral criteria, decide what risk factors exist • Accept or decline the referral
Referral and advisory group • Youth Offending Team, Social Work, Education Welfare, Education Psychological Services, local Police. • Generate referrals. • Share information. • Accountability and advisory role. • Additional referral agencies- school, youth clubs, support services etc
Volunteer recruitment Activity • Mentors are the backbone of our service. Without them we would not exist. • There are a number of different avenues we use to recruit mentors. • Think about a particular mentoring service you could run in your YMCA. Identify the client group you could support and then brainstorm where you might recruit volunteer mentors from. • Some tried and tested recruitment avenues: • Colleges & Universities, Volunteer Centres, community centres, libraries, e-newsletters, local newspapers, shops & cafes, radio, word of mouth.
Volunteer Recruitment Process • Criteria- 1 year commitment, 16+, Police check. • Initial enquiry- Role Description and application. • Interview. • What we look for: good listener, patient, reflective, easy to get along with, open-minded, range of interests/hobbies, ability to meet time commitment, understanding of youth issues. • Accepted onto training.
Mentor Training • Five 2hour sessions. • Groupwork based, experiential learning. • Topics: Background of YMCA, Youth Issues, Youth Work Approach, The Mentoring Relationship, Goal Setting, Action Plans, Child Protection, Boundaries and Personal Safety. • Importance of boundaries… Boundaries Activity.
The Mentoring Relationship • Initial Stages: Referral – home visit – meet mentor – mentoring • Once a week for 2 hours over the course of 1 year. • 1-3 months relationship building • Then, focussed work: goal setting/action plans, reviews, celebrate achievements. • Maintain contact with other organisations involved in young person’s life. • Exit strategy. • Ongoing support for mentors- ad-hoc, S&S, mentor support nights.
Recording and monitoring • VIEWS database • Self-assessment • Action plans • Weekly monitoring forms
KEY POINTS • The relationship is voluntary from both mentor and young person • We are engaging with young people ‘on the cusp’ at a important point in their life • Support, respect and value volunteers. • Training and support seeks to build mentors confidence whilst giving them an understanding of their role and it’s limits. • Information sharing amongst all involved in the life of the young person to ensure their needs are met and work is not duplicated. • Mentoring should be fun. Progress can be made alongside activities.
