Terms of Engagement

Welcome to VOW

Valuing Our Workforce (VOW) is an independent psychosocial mentoring resource supporting Black, South Asian, and racially minoritised social work practitioners across the UK.

VOW provides a confidential and reflective space where practitioners can think things through, explore professional dilemmas and workplace challenges, and develop realistic strategies to move forward.

Our approach is grounded in psychosocial and systemic practice and aims to strengthen confidence, professional identity, reflexivity, and resilience.

What VOW Offers

VOW offers:

  • Online 1:1 mentoring support
  • Reflexive and psychosocial conversations
  • Strengths-based and systemic approaches
  • Support to think through workplace dilemmas and challenges
  • Professional development and reflective practice opportunities

Sessions are intended to support practitioners in exploring:

  • workplace experiences,
  • professional relationships,
  • inequitable practice,
  • confidence,
  • career progression,
  • leadership,
  • identity,
  • and professional wellbeing.

What VOW Does Not Offer

VOW is not:

  • counselling or psychotherapy,
  • a crisis or emergency service,
  • legal representation,
  • an advocacy service,
  • managerial supervision,
  • or a substitute for organisational HR processes.

VOW does not provide clinical mental health intervention or formal case management advice.

If additional specialist support is required, practitioners may be encouraged to access appropriate services through their GP, employer, trade union, employee assistance programme, or other relevant professional services.

Mentoring Sessions

Mentoring sessions are delivered online and usually last for one hour.

Practitioners may be offered between one and three sessions depending on individual needs and service capacity. Sessions may take place weekly or monthly by agreement.

VOW aims to create a safe, respectful, and reflective environment where practitioners feel able to explore experiences openly and honestly.

Confidentiality

VOW treats conversations with care, sensitivity, and respect. Information shared during mentoring sessions will remain confidential unless:

  • there are concerns regarding serious harm to yourself or others,
  • there is a safeguarding concern,
  • there is disclosure of unlawful activity,
  • or disclosure is otherwise required by law or professional duty.

Where possible, confidentiality concerns will be discussed with the practitioner before further action is taken.

Additional information regarding confidentiality and data protection is outlined within VOW’s Confidentiality Statement and Privacy Policy.

Practitioner Responsibilities

Practitioners engaging with VOW are expected to:

  • attend sessions on time where possible,
  • engage respectfully and professionally,
  • provide reasonable notice if unable to attend,
  • and participate honestly and reflectively within the mentoring process.

VOW recognises that practitioners may be accessing support during stressful or emotionally demanding periods and will approach conversations with compassion and understanding.

Questionnaires & Evaluation

Before mentoring begins, practitioners may be asked to complete a brief questionnaire to support the mentoring process and identify areas they would like to explore.

At the end of mentoring, practitioners may also be invited to complete an evaluation form. Feedback helps VOW reflect on and strengthen the service and contributes to understanding the effectiveness of mentoring support for Black, South Asian, and racially minoritised social work practitioners.

Professional Boundaries

VOW is an independent professional mentoring resource. Mentoring relationships should remain respectful, professional, and appropriately boundaried at all times.

Communication outside agreed sessions should relate only to mentoring arrangements, scheduling, or agreed follow-up information.

Equality, Inclusion & Respect

VOW is committed to creating reflective and equitable spaces where practitioners feel respected, heard, and valued. Discriminatory, abusive, threatening, or inappropriate behaviour towards mentoring partners or others will not be tolerated and may result in mentoring being ended.

Online Sessions

VOW mentoring, supervision, and some workshops are delivered online using secure virtual platforms. Practitioners are encouraged to access sessions from a private and confidential space wherever possible to help maintain privacy and minimise interruptions.

While VOW takes reasonable steps to use secure technology, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when using online platforms or electronic communication.

Practitioners are responsible for ensuring they have access to:

  • a stable internet connection,
  • suitable technology,
  • and an environment appropriate for reflective conversation.

Where technical difficulties occur, alternative arrangements will be discussed wherever possible.

Changes to the Service

VOW reserves the right to review or amend services, availability, and these Terms of Engagement where necessary to support safe, ethical, and effective practice.

Insurance

VOW maintains appropriate professional and public liability insurance in relation to its services.

Contact

For further information regarding mentoring support, workshops, supervision, or organisational enquiries, please contact:

info@valuingourworkforce.co.uk
https://valuingourworkforce.co.uk/contact-us/