Building a Trust-Wide Coaching Infrastructure at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) is an acute trust that employs around 8500 staff members. The trust’s vision is ‘Working together to deliver excellence in care for our patients and communities’. We will support our people to deliver our vision, is one of our key strategic aims, and we will do this by fostering a supportive and engaging environment for all employees. Coaching and mentoring are integral to PHU’s Workforce and Organisational Development Strategy, and the trust is committed to enhancing these services. In partnership with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, PHU aims to expand its coaching and mentoring offerings ensuring that all staff members have access to these resources at key stages of their careers.

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The Challenge

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Before partnering with Mission Inc in 2021, PHU faced several challenges in establishing a structured and sustainable coaching and mentoring programme. At that time, there was no formal infrastructure for coaching and mentoring which made it difficult to offer consistent support for staff. The trust lacked comprehensive training for coaches and mentors as well as supervision and ongoing professional development.

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Key challenges included:

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• Limited capacity for coaching and mentoring across the trust

• A need to formalise the coaching and mentoring process for consistency and quality

• Insufficient support and supervision for coaches and mentors

• Lack of a clear system for matching coaches and mentors to coachees and mentees

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PHU recognised the need for expert guidance to build a strong coaching and mentoring framework that would support its workforce at all levels.

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Our Solution

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Mission Inc has been instrumental in helping PHU revitalise its coaching and mentoring offer. Over the past two years, Mission Inc has provided a range of services to support the trust in creating a sustainable solution.

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Mission Inc trained more than 20 staff members to ILM Level 5 in coaching and mentoring, equipping them with the skills to provide high-quality support across the trust. This was followed by ongoing supervision to ensure that coaching and mentoring relationships remain effective and are of the highest standard. They have advised us on how to set up our own supervision and continue to support us generally with our ongoing strategy.

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More recently, Mission Inc facilitated the training of 35 mentors and 10 coaches at foundation level enhancing the pool of available coaches and mentors within PHU.

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Mission Inc helped PHU implement a web-based platform, suggested as a key tool to help manage and scale the growing coaching and mentoring offer. This platform has been a pivotal part of PHU’s ability to provide coaching at scale and manage relationships more efficiently.

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These efforts were designed to not only meet the immediate needs of the trust but also to lay the foundation for long-term growth and sustainability in coaching and mentoring.

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The Outcome

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The partnership between PHU and Mission Inc has led to key outcomes:

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• PHU now has over 60 mentors and 20 coaches, creating a strong internal network of support for staff across all levels.

• The introduction of the web-based platform has streamlined the process of matching mentors and coaches with coachees and mentees, enabling to grow this service over the next few years.

• Staff development has improved with individuals reporting enhanced self-confidence, motivation and overall work performance.

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The trust is now well positioned to continue growing its coaching culture, supporting leadership development and key organisational goals. PHU is committed to fostering an environment where every employee is supported, valued and empowered.

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Looking ahead, PHU remains committed to expanding its coaching and mentoring services to further support the development of leadership and management capabilities within the trust. With the strong foundation established, PHU is well-positioned to continue growing its coaching culture and ensuring that every employee feels supported, valued, and empowered.