Accountability, Supervision, and Confidentiality

Accountability, Supervision and Mentoring

 In a standard contract of employment or written statement of terms and conditions of employment we make provision for accountability and supervision.  These two areas are essential and it is important to ensure that they are properly carried out in practice.  However, Mentoring is not a subject that is specifically dealt with in all the information and guidance about Lay Employment.    The word mentor means ‘an experienced and trusted adviser’.  It would be a useful addition for Lay Employees to have a Mentor.  Somebody chosen by both the employee and the supervisor, who is there to act as a sounding board for the Lay Employee, to be able to listen, to support, to give impartial advice, and to give pastoral care with no hidden agenda and with no direct involvement in the day-to-day situation.  I would suggest that if possible this Mentor should be from outside the Circuit of employment.

 Confidentiality/Emails/Text messages/shredding

 The world of communication has changed beyond belief in the last 10 years.  In many ways this is for the better, but it has also opened up a whole new area of potential problems.  Confidentiality is a high priority when dealing with people on all levels. Email communication and text messaging can be very casual and quick but the same rules apply about confidentiality and sensitivity.  Please stop and think before hitting ‘Send’!  Also, we have a duty to ensure that documentation of a sensitive or personal nature (ie bank details of an ex employee) is shredded in a timely fashion.