A qualitative evaluation of mentors’ experiences of a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic mentor scheme for clinical psychologists

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Inequalities in the clinical psychology profession extend to the uptake and recruitment of clinical psychologists from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Mentoring schemes can help facilitate mentee’s personal and professional development. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of mentors who participated in the BAME mentor scheme at University of Bath.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with N = 29 mentors (both trainee and qualified clinical psychologists), who predominately identified as female and White British. The reflexive thematic analysis six-step process was employed to analyse the data.

Results

Four major themes were generated; (1) Mentoring as a learning curve; (2) Mentoring in the context of BAME; (3) Why we mentor: The impact; and (4) Moving the scheme forward: What next?

Conclusions

Overall, mentoring was a rewarding experience for mentors, and given the right support, could help strengthen the mentoring experience and aims of the scheme for the future. These findings offer insight and guidance for future mentoring programmes considering diversifying the clinical psychology profession.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Whilst steps are being taken to diversify the clinical psychology profession, such attempts are  in their infancy. The set-up of mentoring programmes within the Higher Education sector have theability to encourage and facilitate personal and professional development of those from ethnic minority communities. This study offers an insight into the experiences of mentors already training or practicing within the clinical psychology field to understand what works well and what can be done to improve future mentoring programmes.  

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical psychology
• mentoring
• Mentor
• ethnic minority
• diversity

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Catherine Butler for initiating and setting up the mentor scheme at the University of Bath.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Health Education England (HEE).

Notes on contributors

Afsana Faheem

Dr. Afsana Faheem is a lecturer at University of Bath and co-leads the university’s mentor scheme for aspiring clinical psychologists from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Nina Higson-Sweeney

Nina Higson-Sweeney is a PhD student within the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, investigating fatigue within adolescent depression.

Öykü Eyüboğlu

Öykü Eyüboğlu is a research assistant at the University of Bath where she completed her master’s dissertation on the brain morphometry of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Susanne Wilczoch

Susanne Wilczoch is a specialist Psychology Sixth Form teacher and worked at the University of Bath within the widening participation team.

Khyati Patel

Khyati Patel is a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service.

Mehak Gandhi

Mehak Gandhi is a Data Advisor at United Response, a non-profit organisation which supports individuals with disabilities.

Josie. F. A. Millar

Dr Josie. F. A. Millar is a Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer at University of Bath. Josie co-leads the university’s mentor scheme for aspiring clinical psychologists from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.