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Service User Mentoring
The Expert Patients Programme CIC (EPP CIC) is currently working on an innovative mentoring programme in collaboration with the South Central Strategic Health Authority and the universities of Thames Valley, Southampton and Oxford Brookes.
EPP CIC is facilitating training and ongoing support for people with long-term health conditions to become mentor volunteers to support undergraduate foundation degree students on the Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care: Long Term Conditions Pathway.
Many people who have had a mentor describe it as one of the most rewarding experiences they have ever had. Mentoring provides an opportunity to learn and develop new skills. It also provides an opportunity to build relationships outside of the workplace.
Most people who have never been part of a formal mentoring relationship find that they have, at some time in their lives, been involved in a mentoring relationship. For example, with someone who has taken a personal interest in their welfare and development or someone who was prepared to share their experiences and knowledge to support their development.
The Foundation Degree is a national qualification recognised by the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as the relevant qualification to support assistant/associate practitioner roles in health and social care. Most importantly, the aim of the Service User Mentorship project is to help improve health and social care outcomes for people living with long-term conditions.
By giving students the opportunity to have greater insight into what it means to live and cope with such conditions, and promoting further understanding of and improved practice in the effective self-management of long-term health conditions; mentored students can support and improve health and social care outcomes for people living with long-term conditions.
Service User Mentors have substantial experience of living with a long-term health condition(s) and are also active self-managers, so have first-hand experience of the challenges that living with a long-term condition brings. All Service User Mentors are volunteers and are enthusiastic in supporting their mentee’s learning by sharing their knowledge and experience as well as having active listening and questioning skills.
The Expert Patients Programme CC is able to provide similar mentoring schemes across the UK. For more information please call Freephone 0800 988 5550 or contact us by email
