BSol Coaching - helping you to inspire and achieve
As part of the New Offer, Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System (BSol ICS) has agreed a coaching offer for staff and volunteers. Coaching is open to all staff, regardless of their role or background.
Using the West Midlands Employers' online matching portal, staff can be matched to a trained coach, or put themselves forward to as a coach. Staff can be coached by someone either within their own organisation, or from another organisation within the ICS.
BSol Coaching has many benefits;
- It’s free and confidential
- It’s open to everyone in health and care across Birmingham and Solihull
- It supports professional and personal development in a compassionate way
What is coaching?
Coaching is a developmental process whereby a coach supports another individual in achieving specific personal or professional goals through conversations that empower the coachee to unlock their potential.
Together, the coach and coachee build the skills, behaviours and awareness required to make the desired progress - this could be to improve their performance, influence or effectiveness at work, or address specific life goals.
Coaching is not a long-term relationship; it focuses on specific skills and goals. To achieve those goals, an individual, along with their coach, may work on their personal attributes for example interpersonal skills, confidence or management style.
Coaching may be helpful for those who want to;
- Develop a more strategic perspective after a promotion to a more senior role
- Make positive changes in how they approach challenges
- Develop enhanced communication skills, such as deliver a keynote speech or handle conflict
If you would like to access a coach, or put yourself forward as a coach can do so using these steps;
- Sign up to the Matching Hub (hosted by West Midlands Employers) and complete the registration details.
- Review your suitable matches and select who you would like to be coached by/coach
- Start your coaching journey. The coach will instigate the first contact.
Who is the coaching offer aimed at? Anyone who would like to reflect on their role and performance, may be considering new role or want to achieve something specific.
Are there any pre-requisites to being part of the programme e.g. banding or employment status? There isn’t any restrictions on who can take part but there may be local protocols that need to be adhered to in your organisation.
What can individuals expect to receive from coaching? Time with someone that has been trained to coach. You can expect your coach to help you to think through your aspirations to develop in your role or career.
Can staff choose who they coach or are coached by? Yes. Coachees will submit three choices on the coaching and mentoring site and best match coach will contact the individual to arrange sessions.
How long does coaching last for? On average, coach/coachees would have 3 60-minute meetings over the course of a few months.
What is the time commitment? Usually individuals have about three 60-minute coaching sessions at times mutually agreed. Coaches can expect to commit 5-10 days a year to participating as they will usually coach more than one person.
Do managers need to grant permission or arrange sessions? No. This is about individual’s development but often the discussion starts in 1:1s or appraisals and a manager may suggest coaching would be beneficial to the support an individual’s development.
Will conversations be confidential? Absolutely. Any documentation used to help guide the sessions will be disclosed to the coachee and the purpose of it made known.
What do staff need to do to apply for a coach? Anyone wishing to be coached or become a coach, apply for coach using the Public Sector Coaching and Mentoring Pool Matching Hub. You can choose someone within your own orgaisation or chose from those at another health/care organisation. For example, if you work at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital you could choose a coach at Birmingham Women's and Children's if you prefer.
Who are the coaches? Each organisation has put forward a number of qualified coaches working within their own organisation into the pool. These are coaches are able to coach staff across the system. Other staff interested in coaching can join at any time.
Do coaches need qualifications? Coaches who want to coach staff outside their organisation will need an ILM 5 Coaching qualification but organisations may permit coaches to coach their own employees having undergone informal/internal training.
What does training to be a coach involve? This will depend on whether the training is created by your organisation or accredited. In both cases, there will be theoretical work in regards to skills in having a coaching conversation and there will always be reflection and practice required.
What happens if either party wishes to end the coach/coachee relationship? That is no problem at all. There is no obligation to continue coaching relationship if it is not helpful or the desired result has been achieved. All we would ask is that both parties let each other know, so the coach can take on other coachees if able.