School of Medicine Peer Pal scheme

The UCD School of Medicine Peer Pal scheme is an action initiated by the School EDI committee. This scheme is targeted at new staff starting in the school. Providing a workplace Peer Pal ensures that new employees have someone to talk to, which is particularly important in the first few weeks and months of a new job. Assigning a workplace Peer Pal who can help ease the transition into their new roles can be very beneficial for all involved.

Peer Pal versus Mentor

UCD offers extensive mentoring support to all new appointees. As such, the School of Medicine workplace Peer Pal scheme should be considered distinct from existing mentoring schemes in UCD. Mentoring is considered a more formal, structured process, focusing on short and long-term career goals of the mentee. The mentor is often at a higher level in the university, has undergone UCD mentor training, and has previous experience. This is in contrast to a Peer Pal, who is available to provide advice and support to a new appointee to ensure a smooth transition for a short period of time as they enter a new role. Here, buddying is provided by a peer pal, usually of a similar role or level of responsibility to the new appointee.

How does the workplace Peer Pal system work:

Upon hiring a new employee, the School of Medicine section head identifies a workplace Peer Pal to liaise with the new appointee. When choosing a Peer Pal, consider their personality, physical location, availability and enthusiasm to participate in this scheme. The Peer Pal would ideally be located close to where the new appointee works, they would be of similar grade (either the same grade or a grade higher) and would simply be someone who the appointee could go to ask about things that they are not sure of/do not know how to go about. The Peer Pal would be someone who could point them in the right direction and ideally be a friendly face who would introduce the new appointee to others and help them integrate into the school. This socialization and support can make an enormous, positive difference in early performance and long-term retention.

Peer Pals should have the skills and knowledge to perform the following types of tasks:

• Answering general questions: e.g. how to liaise with school offices, obtain office supplies, make travel arrangements.
• Sharing insight on UCD guidelines and available resources, policies, procedure, norms, and culture.
• Making introductions and involving the new employee in social or informal activities, such as lunch, coffee.

What a workplace Peer Pal should not be:

• The Peer Pal is not a substitute for the mentor or line manager.
• The Peer Pal is not responsible for the new appointee’s individual development.
• The Peer Pal is not to be held accountable for the new appointee’s performance.

For further information, please contact your Line Manager or Section Head.