Mentorship

Do you want to be placed on our list of mentors?

Experienced occupational therapists who are members of OTASA, who have undergone training in counselling, as well as those who have undergone training in the OTASA Mentoring courses, are encouraged to apply to be placed on the following list of mentors.

Please contact the OTASA office for this purpose at

E-mail:
Telephone: 012 362 5457
Fax : 086 651 5438

Please supply proof of your training in mentoring or counselling.

REGISTER OF MENTORS

MENTORSHIP GUIDELINES

NOTE:

For clarity this document uses the female gender but is equally applicable to the male gender.

1. INTRODUCTION

This guideline is aimed at graduates in the occupational therapy discipline.

Newly qualified occupational therapists as well as all levels of occupational therapists, particularly those who have been out of the practice for a period of time, may need guidance and support in respect of:
- The chosen area of practice and skills development
- Ethical issues
- Minimal standards for setting up a practice
- Emotional support
- Professional growth

They may need to be encouraged to join OTASA and to understand the importance of this. They need to understand the importance of maintaining their registration with the HPCSA, and how C PD points can be accrued annually.

OTASA recommends that a newly qualified occupational therapist or an occupational therapists coming back into the profession after a period of absence, finds an experienced occupational therapist who can advise, support and guide her through the first few years of her working life. In this way a feeling of competence in the chosen field will develop as well as knowledge that she is capable of delivering a professional occupational therapy service.

An advisor such as this is generally called a Mentor. The word mentor stems from the Latin and can be defined as "one who acts as a wise and faithful guide, advisor and monitor."

2. WHEN IS A MENTOR REQUIRED?

Mentorship can be recommended as an ongoing process for all levels of occupational therapists. It is particularly important for our newly graduated occupational therapists who are required to undergo community service after leaving university.
It is also particularly recommended for newly qualified occupational therapists going into private practice or working single-handed in a practice or institution, or an occupational therapists entering a new field of practice.
However any occupational therapists may request a mentor for professional growth and personal support.

3. HOW IS A MENTOR FOUND?

A database kept by OTASA assists the occupational therapists (mentee) to find a suitable mentor. This database is also available on the web and the following information can be found:

- A list of mentors with their field of expertise, language preference and geographical location
- Information on the mentorship process
- Information on CPD points, which can be obtained through both being a mentor and a mentee.

Potential mentors are asked to submit to OTASA their names, expertise, language preference and geographical locations. Attendance at a mentorship course is recommended but not essential.

4. CONTACT DETAILS

OTASA:
Tel: 012 362 5457
Fax: 086 651 5438
P O Box 11695
Hatfield, 0028
E-mail: otasa@otasa.org.za

5. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A MENTOR?

A mentor is generally required to provide some or all of the following specific advice, guidance and support:

- Guidance on career planning and professional development
- Guidance on networking within the profession
- Support in applying for membership of OTASA
- Guidance on applying for registration with the HPCSA
- Emotional support through counselling
- Provision of role model
- Development of professional esteem and confidence
- Advice on:
- Further training opportunities
- New challenges
- Management and administration
- Ethical issues
- Relationships with other professionals]'
- Interest group membership

A verbal or written contract will be drawn up between mentor and mentee with regard to the terms and expectations of the relationship.

6. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MENTORSHIP?

The mentee becomes:
- An appropriately developed professional who can take responsibility for a specific or wide range of occupational therapy activities
- A well integrated professional who can contribute meaningfully to the profession of occupational therapy and maintain ethical values
- A professional who has a well developed self concept and shows personal growth and fulfilment
- A professional that can promote economic benefit
- Eligible for C P D points
- A professional who renders a service to the community with integrity and who adheres to the professional code of conduct.

The mentor:

- Provides an important service to the profession
- Grows personally and professionally from the mentoring process
- Gains C P D points
- Learns from the mentee

7. WHAT DOES MENTORSHIP COST?

In a hospital/institution setting or when a new occupational therapist is employed in a group private practice, where there is a hierarchical structure of occupational therapy staff, mentoring should be obligatory for all new staff during working hours. There should be no cost involved. However, should this mentoring take place after hours it is important for a mentor to charge for the service, as it is her own private time.
In the private sector, occupational therapists charge for a mentoring service.
Individual and group mentoring rates in all instances are negotiable with the mentee, but are recommended to be the OTASA or BHF individual rates.