At the Castle Care Village Group of nursing homes, they believe that if it is worth investing in finding the right people, it’s worth taking time to make sure they stay, which is why mentoring has been introduced. Each new member of staff is allocated a mentor from day 1 with the organisation, chosen from existing staff who have the attributes of patience and adaptability as well as strengths in skills and knowledge. An attempt is made to match the 20 strong mentor team (out of 180 staff) with the new staff member in terms of personality and experience. They provide a vital support for new staff in the 6-week training course, helping them to identify gaps in basic skills and answering questions and dealing with any day-to-day anxieties. They also check off regularly what has been learnt and how it can be implemented in practice. If basic literacy, numeracy and IT support is required, mentors support their attendance at a twice-weekly course provided by Hull College, giving discrete guidance in what could be regarded as an embarrassing weakness. Mentors attend a specific training course and a regular refresher conference each year at the University of Hull. Before the scheme began, many new staff did not last even the induction course (a regulatory requirement) but the support and encouragement given by mentors has meant that those who leave within the first 6 months are now a very small minority. The enthusiasm for the job from the mentors rubs off on the trainees and provides a firm foundation for excellent service provided for the vulnerable clients.