Your guide to staff shadowing
Have you ever thought about the possibility of shadowing a member of staff in another organisation providing mental health services?
Well now it's possible to do this.
Volition has worked with Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust (formerly Leeds Mental Health Trust) to set up a work shadowing scheme. This leaflet gives details:
- Information for shadowing applicants (PDF, 44KB)
The report on the first stage of the shadowing scheme (July 2007) is available to download:
- Staff Shadowing Initiative Report (PDF,52KB)
Who can you shadow?
If you work in the voluntary sector in Leeds you can apply to shadow any mental health team in the statutory sector - health or social services. (LPFT staff can find information about shadowing on Staffnet.)
We've set up shadowing arrangements across Leeds Partnerships Foundation Trust's services, including Community Mental Health Teams, Assertive Outreach, the Becklin Centre.
Discussions are taking place with Social Services about arrangements for shadowing. And Leeds PCT are also interested in the scheme. So if you want to apply to shadow a member of staff in an organisation or service which hasn't been involved so far we can enquire with them about shadowing arrangements.
If you want any advice about options contact Volition - our contact details are below.
What does shadowing involve?
Shadowing involves spending between one and three days with a team. You can ask to shadow an individual staff member or perhaps a number of team members. This can include, subject to confidentiality requirements:
- observing the work they do
- sitting in on meetings
- going out on home visits where appropriate.
You will not work with service users on your own. Shadowing is about observing, discussing, learning and reflection.
How do you apply?
You can apply to shadow using this form:
- Shadowing application form (Word, 263KB)
You will need to:
- Say how many days you want to spend shadowing
- Say which organisation or function you want shadow
- Ask your line manager to sign it
- Send the form by email or post to Volition.
What will happen next?
Volition will contact the organisation you want to shadow – the "host".If the host agrees in principle to provide you with a shadowing placement then Volition will give them your contact details and will give you the "host's" contact details.
You will then need to get in touch with your host to arrange convenient dates for your shadowing.
When you have completed your shadowing please fill in an evaluation form and return this to Volition.
- Shadowing evaluation form (Word, 300KB)
This is very helpful as it means we get feedback about how the shadowing works in practice and we can make changes to the scheme arrangements where necessary.
What about hosting staff from the statutory sector?
The shadowing scheme is two-way, so staff in the voluntary sector can shadow staff in the statutory sector and vice versa. If your team receives a request from Volition to host someone from the statutory sector then please:
- consider whether you are able to accept this
- if you are able to go ahead, agree dates with the shadower
- make clear arrangements about which individual(s) within the team will act as host
- confirm with the shadower any specific requirements your team may have e.g. in relation to confidentiality
- offer a variety of experience for the shadower where possible.
Further details about hosting are included in the leaflet:
- Information for shadowing hosts (PDF, 35KB)
Who can you contact to find out more?
If you need more information please:
- speak to your line manager who may already know about the scheme
- contact Gill Crawshaw or Dave Rigby at Volition, tel 274 9585.