ABSTRACT
Mentoring in the context of maternity leave and return to work is concerned with development. It has at its heart helping mentees to do something for them. Maternity mentoring draws on all four of the 'helping to learn styles'. The roles a mentor adopts are influenced by the nature of the mentoring programme, the cultural context of the organisation and the background of the mentor and mentees themselves. Trust is at the heart of a mentoring relationship. In this context, trust is the foundation stone of a confidential forum a safe space for airing the raw tensions associated with working and early parenting. The mentor as trusted counsellor also offers a place to discuss the difficult questions and test out thoughts and ideas. Network reconnector is immersed in a new role with new objectives and new demands on time; frequently the one activity that gets put on the back burner is networking.
