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A Practical Guide to Mentoring
By David Kay and Roger Hinds

As David Kay and Roger Hinds explain in their guide, “coaching and mentoring are invaluable tools in staff development”. Mentoring is increasingly used in a wide variety of organisations, and the benefits are clear. Staff who feel they are reaching their full potential will be more fulfilled and, therefore, more motivated.

Mentoring can assist staff
at all levels, such as new members of the team, those undergoing training and even senior members of staff. As Kay and Hinds assert, joining a new organisation or beginning a new role can be challenging, and mentoring “can be of invaluable help” in supporting staff during these times. New members of staff find their feet more quickly, trainees are supported, and senior members of staff can also benefit from mentoring during periods of change or development within the organisation. Kay and Hinds give a firm insight into how and why mentoring is being so widely used within businesses.

This guide is a must-have for anyone considering becoming a mentor, or even those contemplating using mentoring within their business. The book is full of practical, useful information on the realities, the benefits, the pitfalls and the requirements of mentoring. It provides a complete guide to each step of the process, from the qualities needed to be a good mentor, to preparing yourself for the role, planning the first meeting and establishing a relationship with the mentee. The book even covers the best way to end the mentoring relationship.

The information, acquired
through the authors’ vast practical experience and knowledge of mentoring, is usefully laid out in bite-sized sections, including helpful bulleted summaries at the end of each chapter. The simple and accessible layout makes this book an ideal reference guide that can be used during the entire mentoring process. The authors provide a taste of real-life mentoring with useful scenarios and possible ways to approach them. These cover a broad spectrum, including mentoring members of senior management, members of staff with little ambition, and newly-joined members of the team.

The book provides a flavour of each aspect of mentoring, teaching you how to understand people and the external factors that may affect them, and how to make them feel at ease. The authors discuss the responsibilities that come with the role, and the importance of offering support without simply imposing your own views. In this incredibly detailed book, a plethora of additional information is provided, such as the formal qualifications that can be achieved in mentoring, and an additional section on coaching and its distinctions.

As the authors say, mentoring is
suitable for all organisations. A variety of scenarios and types of mentees are covered within the book, from qualified to unqualified, low level to management level. The book explains that the benefits of mentoring are boundless. A team that feels fulfilled and supported will be happier and more committed to your business, improving staff retention and motivation. New members of staff will slot more easily into their roles, and staff potential can be unlocked, helping them to become vital members of the team.

While not aimed specifically at the
veterinary industry, the tips and advice within this book can be applied to all industries, making this an invaluable guide for anyone interested in mentoring.

Author: David Kay & Roger Hinds
Publisher: How To Books
Price: £8.99

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.