Evaluating the Legacy Mentor Role introduced across North East & Yorkshire

This project was commissioned to provide an evaluation of implementing the Legacy Mentor role across North East and Yorkshire (NEY). A phased approach was taken to the implementation of Legacy Mentors, using a two-part funded pilot. The priority focus for the Legacy Mentor pilot role was the support of new registrants, the workforce group identified by NHS England NEY as at risk of
leaving the role and profession during the first two years of registration. The first phase of the Legacy Mentor pilot was undertaken within secondary care, with subsequent implementation of Legacy Mentors within primary care and Local Authority/Social Care. This evaluation focuses on both phases of the Legacy Mentor pilot aiming to provide transferable learning for implementation in secondary care, primary care and Local Authority/Social Care locally, regionally and nationally. An action research approach was used and, to provide a structure to guide the action research, the principles of the Donabedian approach (1988) were adapted and included: (1) Planning & Preparation (2) Process and Actions (3) Observation of outputs and outcomes for initiatives and the final stage including (4) Reflection and next steps. Data were gathered during three action research
group meetings held with Legacy Mentors over a six-month period, and thematically analysed.
Recommendations are presented as a framework comprising 6 pillars for implementing and evaluating sustainable legacy mentoring programmes by systems and across organisations. This framework can be used to inform the development of an evidence-base to secure long-term resourcing and to enable the longitudinal evaluation of outcomes and impact.