The MSD Mediation Service aims to improve our working environment and research culture by empowering individuals and teams to manage their conflicts efficiently, informally and constructively.
Having an in-house mediation service is an efficient way to:
- Informally manage workplace conflicts and learn from them;
- Resolve conflicts internally and early;
- Create an organisational culture of conflict management, and develop employee skills in conflict resolution.
Open Positions
Mediators- seeking 12 future mediators
The project will train 12 internal staff members as mediators and an additional Mediation Supervisor to support the team along with Maria. This call for mediators seeks 12 volunteers to be trained as professional workplace mediators, who once trained will join our team. Some of your working (roughly 0.05FTE) will be allocated to co-mediating cases between MSD staff/students.
This project is led by Maria Granell-Moreno (maria.granellmoreno@ndorms.ox.ac.uk ) from NDORMS. To discuss the role of a mediator and for any questions please do get in touch for further information. Maria has a Masters in Mediation, Conflict Management and Resolution, has worked as a family and community mediator for many years in city councils around Barcelona and is already an accredited Workplace Mediator trained by Consensio.
Administrative Support- Seeking 1 administrator
We are also seeking an administrator (not required to take part in mediation training, or mediate cases) to support the service in the management of cases and scheduling for approximately 0.05FTE. Ideal for an administrator looking to increase their hours.
About the Mediation Service
Following a successful pilot, and subsequent expanded pilot, first in NDORMS, and then in NDORMS, NDPCHS and DPAG the Mediation Service is being extended for 24 months to include the whole Division. Our mediation service will have a total of 16 mediators (including 2 mediation supervisors) and will be open to any staff and students in the division who need support to resolve workplace conflict.
The service currently operates across 3 departments and includes 5 accredited professional workplace mediators trained by CONSENSIO, a leading mediation and conflict management provider, with one mediation supervisor delivering high quality peer mediation services to the departments involved.
Since 2022, we have successfully led an internal Mediation Service that gives staff and students a space to solve their conflicts informally, voluntarily and confidentially; facilitated by professional and trained workplace mediators. The last report of the service shows that 93% of participants rate it as “very useful to have”.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a confidential, voluntary and informal process that involves two or more parties in dispute, and at least two professional and impartial mediators. The mediators meet with each party individually before facilitating a joint session with them. In this process, the parties speak to each other in an open and honest environment to try to reach an acceptable resolution. Any resulting agreement is therefore determined by the parties. The role of the mediators is to facilitate the process and enable a more productive conversation than the parties might have had without them.
THE ROLE OF MEDIATORS
We are seeking 12 volunteers (the future mediators) who are interested in widening their professional skills. Following the Workplace Mediation Training it is envisaged that the new mediators will prepare and co-mediate with either Isuara, Louise, Polly, Richard and/or Maria (the five mediators already trained and with experience dealing with cases through the service). Preparation, mediation cases, mediators’ meetings, and the option to deliver trainings, will take up to 5% of their FTE (funded by the scheme or their own departments).
THE TRAINING
The volunteers will be required to attend training either online or in-person.
The online format is 9 half days over 2 weeks, ending with an assessment on the 10th session. There is also a requirement to submit a written assignment after the training. See details of the Training course and official accreditation.
The intention is to organise an in-house in-person course. This would be five full days of training, split over two weeks, plus a one-hour role play assessment on day six. The written piece of work is due four weeks after the course ends.
This course is accredited by the Open College Network (OCN) and focuses on the principles, the process and the practice of mediation. The course provides delegates with the practical tools and the necessary accreditation to work as in-house mediators.
WHAT WILL BE THE BENEFITS FOR THE MEDIATORS?
The mediators will be carrying out mediation work as a 0.05 FTE of their normal role so it is important to have line manager or equivalent support for this task. The role will bring personal and professional benefits.
At the training, new-Mediators will:
- Understand the key principles of mediation and the benefits of this approach in the workplace.
- Practice key skills and essential strategies of effective mediators by using various case studies and role play scenarios. All case studies and role plays will be practiced in a safe learning environment with constructive feedback from the trainer.
- Be given a structured process with which to resolve a variety of workplace conflicts.
- Discuss best practice and how to apply this to mediation sessions.
- Develop the confidence to work as an in-house or consultant mediator.
After the training, the new Mediators will:
- Develop communication skills.
- Increase their understanding and knowledge of mediation.
- Be part of a new project that will empower staff & students to manage their conflicts in a positive and healthy way.
- Be part of the building up of the project and see it grow.
Ongoing Support
Continuing support for new mediators will be available from the lead and current mediators of the service. The mediators team meet regularly for half an hour, online, every three weeks. We also plan to bring the group of mediators together, frequently in the early stages, and subsequently every term or 6 months, to reflect on practice, share experiences and refresh learnings as required.
Timelines
The project aims to recruit 12 mediators by the end of October 2024. Mediators should be able to commit their 5% FTE up to end of December 2026.
How to apply
Mediators must be supported by their line managers, and their departmental HAF to put themselves forward to be part of the service, due to the training and ongoing time commitment to be part of the service.
Personal Specification
The mediators we seek will need existing communication and inter-personal skills and a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, but do not have to have formal training or mediation qualifications or experience. Experienced and trained Mediators are also welcome. We envisage that mediators will be, in order of preference:
- From MSD departments (not likely to be from NDORMS and NDPCHS as they have reached their maximum number of mediators per department).
- Those in other Medical Science Division office/units who believe they meet the selection criteria;
- And those in other University departments/units who believe they meet the selection criteria.
We welcome applications from colleagues:
- In part-time roles
- On fixed-term contracts, where their contract has an end-date of December 2026 or later: we will not be able to consider applications from those whose contract expires before that date because of the considerable investment in mediators and the planned long-term nature of the project.
Knowledge, skills and experiences needed to be a mediator
Commitment to diversity
- Demonstrates an existing commitment to an inclusive and diverse staff and student body and is willing to commit to this project.
- Willing to acquire a good working knowledge of mediation, and to develop that knowledge.
Communications skills
- Able to create a positive and non-judgemental environment.
- Handles challenge and conflict with confidence and empathy.
- Willing to learn and grow.
- Empathic and non-judgemental communicators.
Professional skills
- Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to relate well to staff at all levels.
- Able to build relationships which engender trust and confidence and enable collaborative working.
- A willingness to reflect on and enhance your own practice over time.
How will mediators be selected?
It is suggested that all those who are interested first have an informal conversation with the project lead and/or other mediators in the service.
To apply, complete this Expression of interest form before Friday 11 October 2024:
- Outlining why they wish to become a mediator.
- Demonstrating how they meet each of the selection criteria outlined above.
- Showing that they have the support of their HAF and line manager, supervisor or equivalent.
**We will not be able to consider applications from those who do not have line manager support, because of the time commitment required.
The project leader and other mediators from the team will hold: a short semi-structured informal interview with potential mediators to explore the role; and assess individual suitability. Final decisions on the selection of mediators will be made by the project team, taking account of the need to select a diverse group of mediators from across the Department/Division/University, the available budget, and individual departmental time commitment limitation.
We aim to have our final decision by end of October 2024.