Senior managers at the ambulance service covering Maldon are being mentored staff 'on the ground' in a bid to get a better understanding of the challenges they face.

The 'reverse mentoring' project at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) has been led by the Trust's BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) network to maximise opportunities for development and improve staff retention.

Its first phase saw six members of the Trust's Board paired up with operational colleagues to hear more about their experiences of working for the ambulance service.

Each pair met virtually once a month, with the senior leaders taking forward actions following each session based on their discussions. Phase one mentors have all been members of the BME Network, however more staff will be given the chance to take part when the scheme is rolled out more widely later this year.

Nicola Scrivings, Trust Chair, took part in three sessions alongside Senior Paramedic Tanoh Asamoah-Danso, and described them as "incredibly powerful".

She said: "I have gained a huge amount from our reverse mentoring sessions so far. It has been incredibly powerful as it has helped me see our Trust through the eyes of another and to walk in their shoes.

"It has been a really useful way to get a different perspective and find out how colleagues elsewhere are feeling and what they think we should be focusing on.

"Tanoh has helped me enormously. We have discussed everything from inequality to recruitment and retention, along with his ideas for ways we could attract a more diverse workforce. I have already taken away actions from our meetings so that we can make some positive changes which reflect the views of our staff on the ground."

Tanoh, who has worked for EEAST for the past six years and is based in Essex, said: "It has given me the chance to share my views from the frontline with someone who is high up in our organisation and is able to make changes more easily. This is vitally important as it gives senior leaders at the top a better understanding of their staff and what is happening at the bottom.

"I would absolutely encourage others to try reverse mentoring as it gives you a chance to have your voice heard directly by a senior leader. It is an opportunity for a one-on-one dialogue which resonates louder. Because it is personal, it gives the person in the position of leadership more onus to do something about what is being said."