Peer mentor training Session 1

Learning Objectives   1. I know what a peer mentor is and how they can support other young people 2. I understand that building a relationship is central to peer support 3. I can begin to practice active listening

What is a peer mentor? What is their role?

A Peer Mentor is another young person who can act as a resource, a helping hand, a listener and someone who can support their peer with making positive changes. The job of a peer mentor is to provide support, encouragement, and information to their peers.

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

Active Listening What is active listening?

Active listening is paying deliberate attention to everything the other person is saying and doing and also focusing on their non-verbal communication.

Understanding open questions What is an open question? What is a closed question?

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

Paraphrasing Paraphrasing is rewording what someone has said, usually making it clearer and showing the person who is speaking that you are listening carefully.

Paraphrasing Listen to what the mentee is saying Paraphrasing Listen to what the mentee is saying. In pairs try to paraphrase what they have said. Use these sentence starters to help you: - In other words… - So you are saying that… - So you believe that…

What you wouldn’t do as an active 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. Be judgemental/challenging. Put the speaker on the spot/make them feel uncomfortable. Interrupt them/finish their sentences.

Peer mentor training Session 2

Role of peer mentor Forming a positive relationship with your mentee Open body language Open questions Paraphrasing what your mentee says

Supporting your mentee to make a change Learning objectives 1. I understand the importance of seeing things from my mentee’s perspective. 2. I understand how change happens. 3. I have learnt skills which will help me to support my mentee to make positive changes 4. I understand that I should not tell my mentee what to do.

Supporting change in a mentee Change will only happen once a trusting, positive relationship has been established between the mentor and the mentee.

You want the current situation to change, so what could you do You want the current situation to change, so what could you do? What are your different options?

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 want to go to maths class I find maths really hard and don’t understand what the teacher is saying It makes me feel angry and like I want to miss the classes . Option 2 Go to maths after-school club Option 3 Talk to the teacher Option 1 Don’t go to the lessons

Steps to making a change Understand the current situation. Why you want to change it. What the options are to make a change. And what help you might need 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.

What does confidentiality mean?

When you keep something confidential, you do not share it with anyone else Why can this be important in your relationship with your mentee?

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

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

Sean What might you say to your mentee at the time? Would you promise to keep it confidential? What would you do after the mentoring session?

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 perspective 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?