Course description
Mentoring has been an integral part of vocational training and apprenticeships for centuries, and this standard marks the official recognition of the role. As a Learning Mentor, you will utilize your sector-specific experience and qualifications to provide guidance and support to individuals who are new to a work role. This role requires you to be a "dual professional" with both expertise in a specific vocational area and the necessary skills to support learners. Typical job roles for Learning Mentors include learning support assistant, special educational needs (SEN) support worker, inclusion support worker, learning mentor, pastoral support worker, behaviour support worker, student support assistant, teaching assistant, educational support worker, school mentor, learning coach, educational mentor, and youth worker. In your role as a Learning Mentor, you will be part of a business's learning and development provision, collaborating with colleagues and industry professionals to offer guidance and assistance based on your industry knowledge and experience.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Who is this course suitable for?
The Learning Mentor apprenticeship is an exciting and supportive programme ideal for a person who wants to support and mentor people of all ages and levels to develop within a new role. The programme is particularly suitable for anyone responsible for mentoring an apprentice in their workplace, ensuring that the apprentices is supported whilst developing their own skills and learning.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
Knowledge
The Learning Mentor will understand:
Procedures for effective mentoring
- Effective practice in providing accurate and relevant vocational/pastoral advice and guidance.
- Effective questioning, active-listening and assertiveness techniques
- Learning programme requirements and the need to plan contextualised learning in authentic or realistic work settings with the learner support team
- The roles of assessors, coaches or teachers in providing practical help with assessment processes and requirements
- Who has a legitimate need to be kept informed of issues impacting on the learner’s well-being and progress
- The mentor’s role in supporting the learner’s development and how to provide valid evidence of progress and achievement
- Organisational and legal requirements for recording, storing and sharing information on learners’ progress, needs and welfare
- The roles of workplace and education provider colleagues who contribute to learners fulfilling their action plans
Skills
The Learning Mentor will be able to:
Provide mentoring support
- Advise, guide and supervise learners to acquire the most benefit from their learning programme
- Communicate and collaborate effectively and use effective questioning, listening and assertiveness skills
- Work with education providers and workplace colleagues to plan and implement structured and meaningful learning and work experience
- Liaise with assessors, coaches and/or teachers to facilitate formative and summative assessment of learners’ skills and knowledge
- Identify and refer issues relevant to learners’ progress and well-being, to education-providers and/or workplace colleagues
- Collaborate with the wider education support team to review learners’ progress and to provide evidence of progress and achievement
- Maintain appropriate records for the learning programme, complying with quality, confidentiality and data protection requirements
- Liaise with relevant colleagues to support the implementation of learners’ action plans
- Be vigilant in safeguarding learners and others in contact with them
- Maintain the currency of their vocational skills
- Comply with internal and external quality assurance requirements
- How learners may become physically or psychologically at risk, and channels for reporting concerns
- Opportunities for continuing professional development
- Quality assurance requirements relating to the mentoring environment.
Training Course Content
These are the personal attributes and behaviours expected of all Learning Mentors carrying out their roles
- Promote an ethos of motivation, aspiration and a passion for learning
- Operate at all times to ethical and legal standards and within professional boundaries
- Value equality and diversity and work with others to improve equality of opportunity and inclusion
- Be resilient and adaptable when dealing with challenge and change, maintaining focus and self-control
- Demonstrate, encourage and expect mutual respect in all professional contexts