Peer mentor training Session 1

Learning Objectives 1. I know what a peer mentor is and how they can support other children. 2. I understand that building a relationship is central to being a good peer mentor. 3. I know what active listening is and have been practising it.

What do you think a peer mentor is and what do they do?

A Peer Mentor is a child who can act as a helping hand, a listener and someone who can support another child with making positive changes. The job of a peer mentor is to provide support, encouragement, and information to the children they are supporting.

Getting to know your mentee Why do you think it is important to get to know your mentee? How might you get to know your mentee?

? Talk to your mentee Show you are interested by asking questions Listen to them carefully

Active listening is paying deliberate attention to everything the other person is saying and doing, and having open body language.

Open Questions What is an open question? What is a closed question?

Closed questions can be answered by a simple “Yes" or “No”. Open questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer.

Being a bad listener Tell the speaker they are wrong to feel that way. Bad active listening body language. Be thinking about what you’re going to say next before the person has even finished speaking. Tell the speaker you don’t like their viewpoint (be judgmental). Interrupt them or finish their sentences for them.

Reminder of what we have learnt What a peer mentor is. That listening carefully is very important if you are going to be a good mentor- we call this active listening. It involves thinking about your body language and asking open questions. The more you practice the better you will get at active listening.

Peer mentor training Session 2

What did we discuss last session?

• What a peer mentor is • Importance of active listening, thinking about your body language and asking open questions.

Supporting your mentee to make a change Learning objectives 1. Understand things from the viewpoint of your mentee 2. Learn skills which will help you support your mentee to make a positive change in their life 3. Understand that as a mentor you should not tell your mentee what to do.

Making a small change Think about something small that you might want to change in your life: For example: Form a better relationship with your parents. Take up a new hobby. Eat more healthily. Get less angry with your sister. Watch less TV

What is the situation like now? Change sheet What is the problem? What is the situation like now? How does it make you feel? What could you do to make it better? Circle the option that you think is best I don’t like going in the playground I don’t have anyone to play with It makes me feel lonely . Option 2 Try and talk to some children from my class Option 3 Talk to a teacher Option 1 Don’t go in the playground

Steps to making a change Understand the current problem. Why you want to change it. What the options are to make a change. And who might be able help you to make this change.

The role of a peer mentor is to support a mentee, not to tell them what to do. Why do you think this is important?

Learning objectives review Importance of understanding the viewpoint of a mentee. The mentor’s role is to support their mentee to come up with their own ideas for what they would like to change and how they can do this. The mentor should not tell the mentee what to do.

Peer mentor training Session 3

What did we discuss last session?

Importance of understanding the viewpoint of a mentee. The mentor’s role is to support their mentee to come up with their own ideas for what they would like to change and how they can do this. The mentor should not tell the mentee what to do.

To learn about my role and its limitations Learning objectives 1. I understand when I need to keep something private and when I need to inform an adult. 2. I know how and when to report concerns. 3. I understand the importance of setting up an agreement between me and my peer mentor coordinator and me and my mentee.

When you keep something confidential, you do not share it with anyone else

Can we always keep everything our mentee says confidential Can we always keep everything our mentee says confidential? When might we need to speak to someone? Who might we need to tell?

If what your mentee has said or done something that makes you feel: Anxious Worried Sad Concerned Stressed Confused Fearful Or any other negative emotion YOU MUST TELL A DESIGNATED ADULT

Feeling worried or concerned by anything a mentee tells you is an important sign that you must share this information with the programme lead adult before the end of day.

What might you say to my mentee at the time? Will you promise to keep it confidential? What will you do after your mentoring session is finished?

If you are concerned about a mentee you should speak to: ……………………………………………………………………………. Or: …………………………………………………………………………… Or: …………………………………………………………………………….

Peer mentor/facilitator agreement As a peer mentor I will… As the peer mentor facilitator I will… Treat my mentee with respect Treat the peer mentors with respect Form a positive, trusting relationship with my mentee Form a positive, trusting relationship with the peer mentors Use my active listening skills to listen carefully Listen to the peer mentor’s views about the mentoring programme Try to understand issues from my mentee’s viewpoint Answer questions to the best of my ability Ask my peer mentor facilitator if I have any questions Provide training to help the mentors in their role Keep information between me and my mentee confidential, unless any issues that are discussed worry me Provide a safe place for peer mentors to discuss how their mentoring is going, usually during ‘supervision’ Report ANYTHING that worries me to a designated adult before the end of the day Keep information between me and the peer mentors confidential, unless any issues that are discussed worry me Take my role seriously Deal with all safeguarding concerns seriously.

Do you have any questions about anything from these three training sessions?