Helping HR professionals, managers and leaders to embed a mediation-friendly culture.
At TCM, we believe that a healthy and productive organisation is one that offers its employees an alternative to the traditionally adversarial, stressful, time consuming and expensive methods of dispute resolution. Mediation, when offered as a real option to all employees, can not only help to repair and rebuild relationships between parties in dispute, but it can also help to transform the culture of an organisation to one that views conflict as an opportunity for collaboration, growth and development.
TCM has gained invaluable experience and expertise having worked with numerous organisations to embed mediation schemes. We understand how to set up, embed, run and evaluate a mediation scheme and we will support you on every stage of your mediation journey.
Integrating mediation into your organisation
When an organisation develops an in-house mediation scheme, it means that the organisation is equipped with a team of fully trained and accredited internal workplace mediators who understand the unique nature of their organisation: its values, its culture and its structures. An in-house mediation scheme involves embedding mediation into a company’s systems, processes and culture. The in-house mediators are then available to resolve complex workplace disputes.
We have extensive experience of developing internal workplace mediation schemes. We have worked with organisations of all sizes, across all sectors and we have developed a great insight into what works and what doesn’t work. Organisations that work with TCM to integrate mediation will not only receive the highest quality of accredited training, but also complete wrap-around support, guidance and consultancy from the TCM team.
The outsourced mediation scheme from TCM
If your organisation would prefer to use external mediators rather than in-house mediators, we can help you to develop an outsourced mediation scheme. Rather than having a team of internal mediators, out-sourced mediation schemes have access to highly trained, fully independent mediators whenever they need them.
In order to embed mediation effectively, we undertake the same level of preparation, awareness raising, stakeholder engagement, project management and development as we would if you were setting up an internal mediation scheme. The main difference is that cases are mediated by an external TCM mediator rather than an inhouse mediator.
At TCM, we have developed a through mediation scheme case management and quality assurance system APAXIO® to manage cases that are referred to us. You will work closely with your allocated TCM account manager and and we meet with our customers regularly to assess the impact and benefits mediation as well as continually reviewing our systems and processes.
Mediation schemes deliver tangible benefits.
Organisations that work with TCM to establish an inhouse or an outsourced mediation scheme are building on their commitment to create an organisation where people are able to work with dignity and respect. Your employees will work in an environment where they can be confident that workplace conflicts, disputes, quarrels, disagreements and complaints will be resolved effectively and speedily. Your organisation will develop a happy, healthy and harmonious culture and a reputation as a place where workplace conflicts are managed positively and resolved constructively.
Mediation improves productivity, employee experience and wellbeing by:
- Increasing job satisfaction due to open dialogue, mutual respect, collaborative working and offering a constructive remedy to workplace issues.
- Empowering employees through collaborative dispute resolution and improved communication.
- Employees and managers taking direct responsibility for the resolution of issues affecting them.
- Reducing stress through effective and constructive conflict management and the building of empathy and emotional intelligence in team leaders and managers.
What can I expect when I set up an in-house mediation scheme?
When you develop an internal mediation scheme with The TCM Group you are ensuring that you and your employees will get the best out of your new mediation service. To ensure that you do, we have developed a comprehensive strategy and action plan for incorporating mediation into the very fabric of your organisation. Included in your purchase of an in-house mediation scheme from TCM, you will get:
- An on-site Planning and Scoping Meeting to help you and your colleagues with those critical first steps.
- An account on Apaxio®, TCM’s innovative online mediation scheme management system.
- A Stakeholder Focus Group to engage your organisation’s key players with mediation.
- Support developing your Conflict Management Strategy including templates and resources for gathering data and evidence.
- A Mediation Awareness Seminar for up to 100 of your employees.
- OCN-accredited National Certificate in Workplace Mediation.
- Lifetime support for your TCM accredited mediators who will become members of the The TCM Community.
- 6-month post-training Review, Refresh & Reassure for your team of mediators
- Regular Mediation Scheme Review Meetings
- Access to ongoing continuing professional development (CPD) for the scheme co-ordinator and your internal auditors.
Managing Conflict. A practical guide to resolution in the workplace (Kogan Page/CIPD)
David Liddle’s new book. Managing Conflict (CIPD/Kogan Page), includes numerous toolkits and checklists to help you embed mediation into your organisation. It also includes case studies from Tesco, Arcadia Group, The Metropolitan Police, Capgemini and many, many others.
“This is an incredibly useful guide on understanding and dealing with conflict. The author helpfully combines the theory and psychology behind conflict with hands on, practical tips to managing conflict, in addition to bringing this to life by sharing case studies. Whilst the author is clearly an expert in conflict, and shares many examples of situations he has been involved in, this guide is accessible to all. It’s certainly a book I will be recommending to my team, managers, employees – in fact, anyone, involved in managing conflict!” Kirsty Devine, Head of US HR & Global Projects, Financial Times
Available now from Amazon by clicking here
Award-winning mediation schemes.
Last year, two of TCM’s mediation scheme customers – Aviva and The Metropolitan Police, were joint winners of Mediation Initiative of the Year at The National Mediation Awards.
The competition was stiff and the judges made particular reference to the following areas of both mediation schemes:
- Stakeholder engagement and use of data and evidence to inform decision making.
- Ensuring mediation was accessible to everyone.
- Communicating the mediation scheme as widely as possible.
TCM is proud to be working with both Aviva and the Metropolitan Police to make mediation a reality for all of their employees. For more details of the National Mediation Awards, click here
Got a question about setting up a mediation scheme?
Please call TCM’s National Mediation Helpline on 0800 294 97 87
You are welcome to contact us with any type of mediation related enquiry. We are passionate and knowledgeable about mediation and we welcome any questions that you have.
Free workplace mediation consultation days and workshops
If you would like to know more about mediation, we can visit you to deliver a free ‘Mediation Eye Opener’ workshop for up to 16 delegates. During the workshop we will explain how mediation works and we will answer any questions that you have. For more information call 0800 294 97 87 or email us here.
Did you know that we also run complimentary mediation and conflict management workshops at The TCM Academy in London? Click here for more details
Case Studies
Below are a selection of case studies from organisations which have embedded an in-house or an outsourced mediation scheme.
