Political group mentoring

Political groups often face periods of change. Whether working in a hung council, taking control or moving into opposition, they welcome encouragement and support. They can benefit from learning how others have coped in the same circumstances.

Political group mentoring is particularly useful when there is a change in the political control of a council. For those gaining control, support is often needed for building groups, understanding roles and dealing with new and existing relationships in the administration.

For those moving into opposition, support on how to deal with the loss of control and managing this transition may be required before the group can move forward again effectively.

Taking on the new role

Councillors experiencing change within a group need guidance, reassurance and the ability to develop a greater understanding of their new responsibilities.

Political group mentoring compares their role with others, engages in dialogue with peers and provides in-depth information on services. These vary from the very basic to the most complex issues surrounding vision and strategy, relationships, budgets, policy development and consultation.

Building personal capacity and learning

Political groups can also learn the benefits of the 'softer side of leadership'. This can involve acquiring information and skills in areas such as:

• influencing
• negotiating
• stress management
• work-life balance
• other general interpersonal skills.

Political group mentoring includes planning day(s) consisting of:

• discussions with group members
• analysis and consideration of options
• observation of the group in operation at group meetings
• council meetings and liaison with external agencies.

Planning days may also involve:

• protocols governing the mentoring relationship, including confidentiality
• tailor-made learning agreement to suit individual and group needs, including one-to-one meetings, participative observation, learning from good practice and self-learning
• placement of a same political party mentor with appropriate skills, knowledge and experience
• several meetings during the relationship, delivered onsite, which may include an away-day or similar event
• review meetings at relevant and agreed times allowing sufficient time for reflection on actions taken, and the exercise of new personal styles, strategies and so on
• telephone and e-mentoring contact throughout and for up to three months afterwards
• access to the IDeA Knowledge website and supporting documentation.

Eligibility and cost

This kind of mentoring is designed to help councillors at all levels cope with moving into control or opposition or operating in a hung council. It is also available to under-performing councils that have decided political group development can support overall organisational improvement.

Political group mentoring costs between £4,000 and £7,000, depending on the circumstances of the group(s) and number of councillors involved.

Contact

Local leadership team
telephone: 020 7296 6630
email: local.leadership@idea.gov.uk

Page published September 2009.