The scheme sees the former All Black skipper pass on advice to the 24-year-old Edinburgh player whose recent form has seen him emerge as a front runner for Lions selection in two months time.
"When I first spoke to Ross, I told him I could not teach him anything technically that he did not know already," said Fitzpatrick, an inaugural World Cup winner who earned 92 caps for his country and made a world record 63 consecutive Test appearances.
"It is more the mental side I am helping him with. I have watched a lot of his games and he is without doubt a very good player. He is a great physical specimen, he carries the ball well and he seldom turns it over.
"I have no doubt he will be a top player. I can only offer him bits of advice along the way," Fitzpatrick told the Press and Journal during a visit to the Scottish capital.
Fitzpatrick, who will continue to keep an eye on Ford during the Six Nations, was impressed with Ford's performance against his countrymen when the All Blacks arrived at Murrayfield in November.
Although the All Blacks ran out healthy winners that day, Fitzpatrick felt the Scottish scrum more than held than their own, with Ford deserving plenty of credit for his role in creating Scotland's strong foundations.
"That was a pretty good Scottish scrum," explained Fitzpatrick, looking back at the autumn clash.
"Part of the reason for that was Ross Ford, whom I've mentored a bit recently. I'm not taking any of the credit for his performance but he did play well and I mention it only because he is a big lad (115kg) and a destructive scrummager.
"If you do not have a dominant hooker at this level, your scrum will struggle. There's nothing against (All Black hooker) Keven Mealamu in that (he played pretty well) but there's no doubt a scrummaging hooker makes a difference."
New-Zealand born Scotland forwards coach Mike Brewer believes having his former international colleague Fitzpatrick on board can only help Ford become a more effective player for both club and country and, possibly, for the Lions.
Brewer expects Fitzpatrick to pass on an element of the kind of mental toughness that formed a central part of Fitzpatrick's 11-year stay in international rugby - the kind of attitude that could just help Scotland rise up the world rankings and help the Lions earn another series win on South African soil.
"Sean will have watched Ross and seen he's a fine and capable player," said Brewer.
"At international level it's about preparation, physical, mental and nutritional. Then it's about your approach as far as getting an advantage or an edge on your opponent is concerned, whether that is in a scrum or in a tackle.
"In the psychological aspects Fitzy was really hard and uncompromising. Ross is a quiet guy and not as effervescent or demanding of the players around as Fitzy.
"That is what Sean was all about. Ross is a big boy who is going to have to step up and say 'I'm a warrior, follow me'."
