Mentors play an important role in supporting Licentiates towards success in their APC. Mentors must be Corporate Members (Chartered or Fellow) who are committed to the mentoring process, with a strong belief in its benefits to the planners of the future. Mentors receive free online training through www.planningmatters.co.uk. Mentoring is an excellent opportunity to contribute to your Continuing Professional Development.

Detailed information on the role of the mentor in the APC is available in Section 6 of the Guide to the APC. Mentors are advised to be familiar with the whole document in order to understand what will be required of Licentiates on this route, and therefore the kind of advice and support that they might require. Generally speaking, Licentiates will benefit greatly from even the general advice and experience that a more established member of the profession is able to share.

Becoming a mentor

Licentiates are encouraged to identify their own APC mentors, so you may have been approached directly by a Licentiate. If this is the case, both you and the Licentiate should complete the Mentoring Agreement form.

However, due to geographical or other restrictions, some Licentiates may find it impossible to identify their own mentor. In order to ensure all Licentiates are supported the RTPI is building a database of mentor volunteers from around the country who would be willing to be paired with a Licentiate. If you would like to volunteer as a mentor, please use the Mentor Registration Form. The RTPI will hold your contact details to be passed to a Licentiate once they apply for a mentor.

Mentor Training

Free online training is available for new APC mentors through www.planningmatters.co.uk, an online learning resource developed by the RTPI and its partner Echelon Learning. New mentors will receive an email notifying them of their personalised log in and password.

The training comprises four modules:

• Being a Good Mentor Means...
• Planning a Mentoring Programme
• Planning Your First Mentoring Meeting
• Issues in Mentoring 

The total programme takes only a couple of hours to complete. Modules can be accessed from any computer, or printed and completed offline. Further modules on mentoring, as well as planning and business skills modules, are available to individuals purchase through the site, and by corporate licence.

In 2008 the RTPI aims to pilot some mentor events to provide mentors with an opportunity to raise questions and share best practice. Further details of any planned events will be emailed directly to all registered mentors.

Mentor Guidance

Alongside the Guide to the APC, which is the main guidance document for all involved with the APC, some additional guidance notes have been developed specifically for mentors. The guidance notes are designed to provide you with answers to APC-specific questions you may be asked by the Licentiates you are working with, and also to suggest topics and questions you should be posing to them in order to help them reflect on their experience and progress.

Each note deals with a separate aspect of the APC, and is kept to a double side of A4 - allowing you to access and read the guidance at your own pace. Download the guidance notes by following the links below.

Mentor Guidance Note 1 - General Questions and Concerns

Mentor Guidance Note 2 - APC Log Book

Mentor Guidance Note 3 - Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Mentor Guidance Note 4 - APC Written Submission

Mentor Guidance Note 5 - Meeting the APC Assessment Criteria

Mentoring & Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Mentoring is an excellent way to contribute to your professional development. This could be through the online training, or drawing on the skills you will be developing as a result of the mentoring relationship. This could include leadership, coaching or communication skills. Mentors should build their intention to become a mentor into their Professional Development Plan (PDP).

If you have any questions about mentoring for the APC, please contact apc@rtpi.org.uk.

Useful Information

Guide to the APC - full guidance on all elements of the APC

Mentor Registration Form - for Chartered members volunteering to be paired with a new graduate

Mentoring Agreement Form - for use where a Chartered member will act as a mentor to a specific named Licentiate

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

30-May-08

Categories:

Assessment of Professional Competence 

This article has been read 5394 times.