Mentorship Program Code of Conduct
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Mentoring relationships largely succeed due to mutual respect and trust between the mentor and the mentee. A Mentoring Code of Conduct is a means to align the expectations of both parties in the relationship. Mentors and mentees are expected to maintain professional conduct at all times during the mentoring relationship. Participants agree to keep relationships free of discrimination, harassment, or personal involvement. Mentors and mentees are expected to be respectful of each other, preparing for arranged sessions as appropriate, and giving adequate notice when a meeting has to be cancelled. For evaluation purposes, all participants are encouraged to provide feedback on the programme and their mentoring relationships. Both mentor and mentee are advised to abide by the following code of conduct and act in a way which respects diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
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Before we start the program, we need participants to agree on the mentorship code of conduct.
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Mentors and mentees must agree to:
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Adhere to common standards of the professional behaviour.
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Treat others with respect and courtesy at all times.
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Not to be judgemental of each other.
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Keep all contact details in private.
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Understand that all conversations are kept confidential (unless any issues are raised which may place either party at risk or in a vulnerable situation)
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Only use appropriate language.
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Do not advise inappropriate advice.
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Give reasonable notice of cancellation of appointments.
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Understand that if either party chooses to end the relationship, that both parties are still expected to keep shared information confidential at all times.
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Your role as a mentor:
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Not expect or accept rewards or financial compensation in return for support offered to the mentees. Mentors are volunteers.
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Approach the mentoring relationship with an open mind and provide honest feedback. Mentors should try to balance their suggestions and encourage their mentee's personal and professional growth.
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Respond to the needs of the mentee and not impose their own agenda.
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Respect the mentee’s time availability, ensuring that they do not impose beyond the time period acceptable to the mentee.
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Respect that either party may end the relationship at any time.
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Not pry into areas that the mentee wishes to keep private.
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Share responsibility with the mentee for the smooth winding down of the relationship, once it has achieved its purpose.
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Not exploit the mentoring relationship in any way.
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Never work beyond the bounds of their capability, experience and expertise.
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Where appropriate, seek advice and refer mentees to the Coordinator.
Your role as a mentee:
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Contact their mentor by email within two weeks of being allocated to their mentor.
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Inform the Coordinator if they have been unable to make contact with their mentor.
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If their mentor does not respond in the first instance, to make two or three attempts to contact their mentor by email, allowing the mentor a reasonable time to reply to their first contact. We suggest this ‘reasonable time’ should be one week.
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Respect their allocated mentor’s time availability, ensuring that they do not impose beyond the time period acceptable to the mentor.
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Be honest in their presentation of issues and be respectful to their mentors at all times.
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Respect that either party may end the relationship at any time.
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Notify their mentor in advance of the meeting if they are unable to attend and rearrange the meeting if possible.
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Not directly seek employment or work experience from their mentor (unless this is offered by the mentor). The mentoring programme is not intended to guarantee mentees with employment or work experience from mentors or their organisations.
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Respect the relationship boundaries when introduced to a mentor's extended network.
If you have any question, please feel free to contact Diversein at diversein.com@gmail.com
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