Mentorship

More people are applying for and completing mentorship

Mentorship recommended15

Completing mentorship2

Supporting Resource Materials

General Information Benchmarks Mentorship Checklist Family Satisfaction Mentor ‘s Satisfaction Scale

General Information Example What is mentorship?

Mentorship provides a structured experience used to support movement of persons into the First Steps system as Primary Level Evaluators (PLE). It is a competency based system that requires the mentored to work with a mentor to develop an action contract to address the educational and experiential needs of the mentored. Successful completion of the action contract can be documented using direct supervision (would involve completion of rating scales, formal and informal observations) and family feedback.

Mentorship con’t

Other methods may also be identified by the contract developers. In some cases the requirement of university/college coursework and other experiences may be required of some professional disciplines or to compensate for a weakness on the part of a mentored. Direct supervision feedback can take many forms (e.g., face-to-face contact/meetings, reports, video conferencing, phone and electronic communications).

Mentorship Con’tAdditionally, the participants may be asked to provide video/digital tapes of experiences and complete teleconference demonstrations of abilities. Supervisors may elect to use other methods as well. Plans developed with and for the mentored must be approved by the Child Evaluation Coordinator and/or the Evaluation Advisory Committee prior to implementation.

Mentorship Con’tThe mentored can be excluded from the system without prior notice at anytime, at the discretion of the supervisor, Child Evaluation Coordinator or the Evaluation Advisory committee, if it appears that successful completion is not possible.

Benchmarks

AreasAssessment InteractionCollaborationReportsOverall Competency

Example of BenchmarksInteraction Questions Examiner has the ability to attract/join

child into the testing situation Ability to develop a rapport with family Ability to covey information while being

sensitive/ compassionate; yet still accurate information

Evidence

Teaching Skills Inventory or a modified version by direct and/or videotape

ISC/PSC Satisfaction Survey Mentor Checklist Family Satisfaction Survey

Example of Collaboration

Mentored is able to participate as a professional and member of the First Steps Team

Evidence

Phone contact logs ISC/PSC Satisfaction Survey Integration of recommendations

into IFSP Mentor’s checklist

Mentorship Checklist

35 items Rating Scale

S = Superior Skill P = Proficient A = Apprentice N= Novice N/A = Not Applicable 14/35 are Yes/No N/A

Areas AssessedGeneral Testing ExperiencesReport ConsiderationsDocumentationProfessionalism and Collaboration Mentorship Activities (Yes/No;

N/A rating)

Examples from the Mentorship Checklist Demonstrates abilities in testing across the

age spectrum of First Steps Demonstrates abilities in testing across

infants and toddlers with varied disabilities Scoring protocols are completed consistently

and correctly Child’s report information is presented in a

clear and consistent way

More Examples

Logs are reviewed at least monthly and use them to suggest further training, coursework, areas of needed improvement. Plans reflect mentored/mentor discussion

Works to improve any area of weakness identified through surveys (ISC/PSC or Caregiver) by mentor

Examples of Activities

Mentorship contract developed between mentor and mentored

Completed at least 56 contact hours (included the 42 previously identified in the face to face hours)

Family Satisfaction Survey

This survey is to be completed by the family who has had a child evaluated by a candidate in the mentorship program.

16 Questions and one comment Ratings

1 Very unsatisfied 2 Unsatisfied 3 Neutral 4 Satisfied 5 Very Satisfied N/A Not applicable

Examples of Family Survey Questions The evaluator arrived at the scheduled time. You felt like the evaluator listened to your

concerns. The report, especially the recommendations lead

you to get the services that you child needs. If the evaluator attended the IFSP, did he/she

help to develop the IFSP document and the plans for the coming year?

Mentor ‘s Satisfaction Scale

Same Likert Rating Scale12 QuestionsOne page

ExamplesOf Mentor’s Survey

To your knowledge, the evaluator was able to convey the information in a sensitive and caring manner.

The evaluator was able to communicate effectively with other team members at the IFSP meeting.

How satisfied were you with the overall services (child evaluation, caregiver support and report)?

Summary

More persons are completing mentorship Resource materials are available on

PREPNET We would love to have more people willing

to provide mentorship to persons entering our field