Reverse Mentoring

It is vital that research reflects the population that the NHS serves so people taking part in health and care research should be representative of the diverse communities in our region.

Researchers should have an understanding of the cultural perspectives of people from ethnically diverse backgrounds to design and deliver research that is inclusive for people living in all of our communities.

We would like to offer people from ethnic minority backgrounds the opportunity to mentor researchers through our Reverse Mentoring Scheme. Through mentors sharing their lived experiences, researchers will develop an better understanding of the structural barriers that people from ethnically diverse backgrounds face if they wish to take part in research which will influence their future research practice.

Our Reverse Mentoring Scheme is designed for researchers (Chief Investigators, Principal Investigators and Early Career Researchers) to develop an understanding of the cultural perspectives of people from ethnically diverse communities to inform their research practice.

How does the Reverse Mentoring Scheme work?

We pair a mentor with a researcher who will be their mentee for the duration of the scheme. All scheme participants attend an in person induction session where they will be introduced to their scheme partner. At the induction session, each pair will complete the first of their 6 sessions. Prior to the induction, some pre-reading will be circulated to ensure attendees are prepared for their first meeting with their partner.

Each mentoring session has a topic and will last one hour. We provide a workbook with information, resources and suggested structure to support each meeting. All scheme participants will need to allow time to prepare for each session by looking at the resources provided in the workbook. Preparation activities include watching YouTube videos, listening to TedTalks and reading articles.

After the induction session, each pair will meet another 5 times over a 3 month period. The dates, times and locations of these meetings will be agreed by each pair. To help us assess the effectiveness of the scheme, mentors are required to provide feedback using an online form following the third and final meetings with their scheme partners.

What are the benefits of taking part for Mentors?

The scheme aims to provide positive and meaningful rewards as determined by each individual mentor. EMRI will support the realisation of rewards that we can influence, for example, exposure to contacts/resources to support chosen career paths or other forms of development.

Mentors can share the health and care research priorities of their communities directly with researchers. Mentors may develop an increased understanding of research that they can share with their communities and networks.

Recognition for Mentors

All mentors are recognised for participating in the Reverse Mentoring Scheme. Recognition is provided in the forms of:

A letter and certificate
Recognition payments of up to £225.00. Payments are paid by bank transfer to a bank account nominated by the mentor.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for people from ethnic minority backgrounds with an interest in improving the inclusiveness of health and care research who are willing to share their lived experience with researchers. Through sharing lived experiences, it is hoped that mentees will change their research practice to be inclusive and accessible for people from ethnic minority communities. Prior knowledge of research is not required. If you have good communication skills and can commit to the requirements of the scheme, we’d love to hear from you.

What are Mentors required to do?

Over the course of approximately 3 months, each mentor will spend 2.5 days in total on the following activities:

Attend an in person induction session
Meet 6 times with their scheme partner (mentee) for one hour per meeting
Provide feedback via an online form after the third and final meeting with their scheme mentee

How can I get in touch?

If you are interested in becoming a Reverse Mentor or Mentee, or would like to find out more, email rdash.emri@nhs.net

Participants from previous schemes have recorded their experiences in the videos below.

In this video, Giorgia and Nadeem share their experience of taking part in our 2022/23 Reverse Mentoring Scheme.

Director of Grounded Research (Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust) Heather Rice shares her story of taking part in the EMRI pilot Reverse Mentoring scheme.

EMRI Reverse Mentoring Programme 2023/24

50 participants (25 pairs of mentees and mentors) completed one of the three Reverse Mentoring Schemes delivered by EMRI between July 2023 and April 2024. The scheme was delivered to a wide audience including researchers, research delivery staff and research midwives.