Beyond black and white: an inclusive reciprocal mentoring model to promote diversity, engagement and understanding

Abstract

The NHS is the largest employer of Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff in the UK. However, 15% of staff from these ethnic backgrounds have reported experiencing discrimination at work. Reverse mentoring programmes have been trialled as way of raising awareness and understanding of issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly among senior management. However, these programmes have drawn some criticism. Instead, a programme based on reciprocal mentoring could be a more effective means of creating a more inclusive NHS culture. This article explores how such an approach could work in practice, with discussion of a pilot reciprocal mentoring programme that was implemented at Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from September 2020 to May 2021.