The new mentorship program offered through the Sunrise Health Region is a wonderful way for new employees to become more adapt and confident in their new roles, says Phyllis Olynyk, the regional mentorship contractor.
She also does the same job for the Kelsey Trail Health Region. This is a new program that began in the Sunrise Region in November with the hiring of Olynyk. It was part of her duties to get the program off the ground.
The goal is to match experienced staff members with new workers, she said. To describe the benefits of the program, Olynyk referred to a pamphlet printed for Sunrise.
“Mentorship is an intentional and nurturing relationship between a more experienced employee (mentor) and a less experience employee (mentee).
“In this relationship, the mentor demonstrates positive behaviours, provides guidance and offers support and knowledge.”
The goal of the program is: to expand knowledge, identify and achieve career goals, make it possible to receive encouragement and support, and to expand one’s knowledge about the organization.
How it works
After a mentee applies to the program, the coordinator assigns the mentor from a list of employees who had volunteered.
The next step is for the mentor and mentee to attend ad mentorship workshop at which they gain knowledge and training. Both the mentor and he mentee receive information about the program and then must develop a plan to reach their goals.
As the regional coordinator, Olynyk said she is available to provide additional support and provide resources. The program began last fall and Olynyk was hired as the coordinator. Her first job as the get the program off the ground. Right now, her main workload is to promote the program and encourage both mentors and mentees to register. A few pairs have already begun working together and all the feedback points to very successful program, said Olynyk.
The mentee learns to adjust to the specific work life at his or her new job. By making it a positive experience, the mentee will gain the necessary self confidence to succeed.
Though this is a program available in the whole health region, Crossroads Credit Union donated $500 for use locally.
