I thoroughly enjoyed the course and loved that we had the opportunity to do this at the end of what felt like a very long winter in HR – it was a breath of fresh air! I really look forward (in a positive way!) to having the opportunity to use these new skills in the workplace.
Qualify as a Workplace Mediator (6 days)
Build the skills to resolve high level conflict effectively
Why training as a workplace mediator is right for you
You’ve seen how workplace conflict plays out. Something minor sparks an argument, managers ignore it and months later you’re dealing with a lengthy grievance. It’s absorbing your time, energy and patience.
Weeks on end are taken up with meetings, meeting notes and increasingly unhappy people as senior leaders insist that person A is a troublemaker and needs to be exited from the business.
That doesn’t sit right with you – you know there’s more to it. You just don’t have the skills to get to the bottom of it. And, in the meantime, your values and morals are being tested as you’re expected to “tow the company line”.
Instead, you want to manage conflict confidently and effectively. It’s a key skill for both managers and HR professionals in today’s workplace and qualifying as a workplace mediator allows you to change your approach.
It insists you’re impartial and focuses on finding a resolution that works. It may still be that person A leaves the business, but that will be their choice and the right decision for them, not a “fait accompli”.
You’re excited about the improved communication and conflict resolution skills you’ll learn, but your main driver is wanting to do things better. To treat people like people and ensure they’re heard.
And when you do, you’ll not only achieve better outcomes, you’ll also -rest easy knowing there isn’t another complex grievance waiting around the corner.
Reserve your placeWhat you’ll get
This programme qualifies you as a workplace mediator. It runs over 6 days (4 days if you’ve already completed the Level 3 Award in Understanding Mediation) and builds your confidence in handling complex conflict cases.
You’ll benefit from:
- Developing the confidence and skills to manage high level workplace conflict situations.
- Practising techniques which help you dig below the surface, repair relationships and achieve long-term resolutions to disputes.
- Exemplary high standards of training and interactive, practical learning using real-life case studies to explore the triggers and impacts of conflict at work.
- Learning from the best. Sarah Crayford-Brown and Lizanne Keenan are both full-time mediators with hundreds of hours of experience which they bring into the programme.
- An understanding of how to get conflict resolution right (and wrong) through the lens of management, legal and HR.
- Actors assist in demonstrating a key scenario to give you a realistic view of how mediation works.
- Multiple role-play opportunities. While this can feel uncomfortable initially, it’s the best way to test and develop your skills before you dealing with a live case.
On completion, you’ll obtain the nationally recognised Level 3 Certificate in Mediation Theory and Practice accredited by OCN London, regulated by Ofqual and accredited by The College of Mediators.
Reserve your placeWhat the Mediation Theory and Practice certificate covers
These are interactive sessions which centre on your participation. You cannot become an effective workplace mediator without applying the skills.
The outline shows you what to expect from each day of your programme. Take a good look through and arrange a call with Lizanne to ask any questions you have.
Day 1
- Conflict - Understanding the theory and
psychology - Mediation – Understanding the process
- Exploring key mediation skills
- How mediation fits with other forms of conflict resolution
- Pros and cons of mediation
- Helping you use mediation at work
Day 2
- Mediation – exploring the different types available
- Mediation – structure and the mediator’s role
- Co-mediation
- Prejudice – managing yourself and others
- Practical mediation assessment
- Managing concerns and challenges
- Exploring what a good outcome might be
Day 3
- Conflict strategies – causes and barriers to resolution
- Mediation – moving to solo mediation
- Tips and techniques for effective mediation
- Adapting your approach to suit individual parties
- Practical experience – starting your solo mediation
Day 4
- Practical experience – completing your first solo mediation
- Building your mediation toolkit
- Mediation agreements – exploring the options
- Transformative mediation – achieving long term behaviour change
Day 5
- Prejudice, Equality and Diversity – managing yourself and others
- Managing high level conflict
- Assessment – solo mediation
- Using mediation in the workplace and why it’s so powerful
Day 6
- Assessment – solo mediation concluded
- Setting up and closing mediation – the strategy and practicalities
- Internal vs external mediator – advantages and challenges of each
- The written portfolio and discussing expectations
- Making the best of your new skills
Understanding the practicalities
Open enrolment programmes
We speak to everyone before they attend one of our training programmes to ensure it will meet your needs and be the right fit for you.
Each open session has maximum of 8 attendees to ensure you can receive focused attention and feedback from your tutors.
The day typically starts at 9.00 am and ends at 5.00 pm.
All our programmes are held at a central Bath venue (near Queen Square) and can be easily accessed via car or public transport.
The programme is 6 days long and split across two weeks (3 days on each) to provide the perfect balance between time in and out of the office.
The programme is £1,795 per person (no added VAT). A £200 deposit is required on booking.
Dedicated company programmes
There are huge benefits to having qualified internal workplace mediators. Conflicts get addressed, relationships are restored and collaboration resurfaces with brilliant ideas and new innovations.
That’s why having a bespoke programme dedicated to developing in-house mediators can be highly effective.
Role plays and key discussions can mirror key conflicts your organisation faces, increasing your return on investment.
You can also tailor the experience to your work environment and create an internal support network as individuals apply their newly-learned skills.
Delivered on- or off-site, dedicated company programmes offer a unique opportunity to make mediation key to your approach to conflict. It offers a shared language for internal policies and communications skills which benefit everyone. And it underpins your move from grievance to dispute resolution policies.
To discuss your needs and explore this option in more detail, chat with Lizanne.
Reserve your placeMeet your tutors
Sarah Crayford-Brown
“There is no one right way to mediate. There are many ways and I love to celebrate with delegates as they find the approach which works for them.”
Sarah has mediated hundreds of disputes and delivered hours of training, giving her access to all the stories you need to make your mediation skills stick. Her approach centres on giving you tools so you find the ones that work best for you. And she’ll celebrate with you as you develop your capability and confidence.
She doesn’t pass judgement on the skills you have, she just shares her feedback to make you the best mediator you can be. And she has a passion for mediation which is second to none. Workplace mediation is what makes her tick, and that’s how people know they’re learning from the best.
Find Out More
Lizanne Keenan
“People are people. When you truly understand that, you can work with everyone and get to the heart of what really matters”.
understand people and identify what you need is undeniable. She can get to the root of a problem you don’t even realise you have. And she does all that because she knows what it’s like in your shoes.
From shop floor line manager to senior HR professional, and everything in between, Lizanne’s been both sides of the table and she can relate to you in a way very few others can. She’s had the difficult conversations, understands the scenarios you describe, and speaks your language. Not because she’s read it in a textbook, but because she’s lived it, and come out the other side.
Find Out MoreDelegate feedback
The feedback we get is the same, whether people are qualifying as in-house or external mediators.
Read the comments below to see what people say:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for the excellent course that you provided this week on mediation. I learnt so very much and am very grateful for the patient and wise manner in which you shared your expertise. The practical exercises, combined with your insights, really allowed a depth to the course which was much appreciated.
IIt was lovely to meet you and I cannot thank you enough for the training you delivered. It has changed my thinking so much and I thoroughly enjoyed it.