coaching service for staff

Welcome to Southport & Ormskirk's Workplace Coaching Programme, a service available to any member of staff who wishes to utilise our dedicated coaching network and engage with a coach.

What is coaching?

Coaching is about maximising your potential, opening up possibilities and increasing personal choice.  It is a process of growth and personal learning that facilitates self-awareness.  It is about solutions, not problems, and is focused on moving you from where you are to where you want to be, whilst helping you identify the resources necessary to get there. 

The aim of the coach is to promote independence in the coachee so that they take responsibility for their own learning, rather than becoming dependent on the coach. 
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Coaching is suitable for people who are interested in exploring possibilities and setting goals to move forward, and may help to:
  • Prepare for your next role 
  • Develop in your existing role 
  • Feel more confident in your role or a particular skill
  • Overcome a particular developmental challenge
  • Address specific work related challenges around people, projects or issues relating to career development

what can coaching offer?

Coaching can have wide-reaching benefits; and some of these include;
  • Learning to address your own challenges 
  • Developing greater self awareness in a safe and supportive environment
  • Identifying goals and potential barriers 
  • Developing appropriate skills and strategies to feel empowered and take action and implement change 
  • Increased confidence in resolving, preventing or forecasting challenging situations 

Do I need coaching or mentoring?

People are often confused about whether they need mentoring or coaching. The main differences are:
COACHING
  • More structured and meetings are scheduled regularly
  • Has a set duration
  • More short term on specific areas / development
  • Coaching is not generally affected by the level or role of the coach, often the professional distance can give an objective and clearer perspective.
MENTORING
  • May be more informal and meetings take place as and when the person needs support and guidance.
  • On-going relationship
  • More long term and takes a broader view
  • A mentor is usually more experienced and qualified (often a senior person) who can draw on their experience and knowledge.

What happens in a coaching session?

The key to principle of coaching is belief in the potential of the person being coached. A skilled coach is able to support a person’s thinking processes by using their listening, questioning and observation skills or by giving feedback. The coach’s main focus is to be committed to the other person, supporting them to find their own solutions, helping them overcome their obstacles and giving them the confidence to take action. Coaching lasts for a defined period, usually up to six sessions. Goals are the start of the coaching relationship and evaluated throughout the sessions. Ideally your line manager should support your application for coaching, as well as give you the time and space for coaching. The content of yours session is confidential.

our coaching network

The coaching network is supported by the Organisational Development Team and coaches take on coaching assignments in addition to their substantive posts. Unlike mentoring, coaches do not need to have expertise in the work or discipline area of their coachee, although they come from a range of professional, clinical, corporate or supporting fields and therefore have a wealth of insight, experience, and interpersonal qualities you can expect from a good coach.

queries

If you have any further questions and queries about coaching or just want an initial chat please contact the Trust's OD Team or find out more about our coaching network on the Trust's Intranet.