Mediating conflicts in the community setting can be hugely rewarding. Unlike other disciplines of conflict resolution, it often takes place in people’s homes, in an informal setting. You may be facilitating clients who live next to each other but have hardly met. You can read more about our Neighbour Mediation service here.
Amongst other things, we act as a mediation provider to housing residents who would not otherwise have the means to resolve their difficulties. Although volunteering is a common reason why many choose to train with Calm Mediation, it is not the only one. Those mediating community conflicts for Calm Mediation often speak about the immense satisfaction of contributing to the well-being of their community.
Legal professionals gain a valuable set of skills, enabling them to broaden their activities during and following careers as barristers, legal aids and solicitors.
Although we are a service provider to many housing bodies, our training is popular with managers there. Staff trained in mediation contribute to greater efficiency of the service as a whole, resulting in the provision of better support for their residents.
Many housing officers request the training themselves as it provides a blueprint to handling residents’ emotions directed at themselves or others, raising job satisfaction and decreasing stress in the process.
Explore our training courses
Foundation in Mediation Skills Taster
Who’s it for?
Anyone interested in learning about [community and neighbour] mediation and skills, but doesn’t yet want to commit to the full 6-day course.
Objectives
To explore how people respond to conflict and to understand the mediator’s role, and tips on how to help others in conflict without getting involved ourselves.
What you’ll get out of it
A taste of conflict and conflict resolution.
Foundation in Mediation Skills Training
Who’s it for?
Anyone interested in learning about [community and neighbour] mediation and skills.
Objectives
To understand conflict and exploring individuals’ responses to it, the steps of the mediation process, and practising the skill to deliver a professional service.
What you’ll get out of it
Detailed insight into conflict and conflict resolution using mediation. With the option of gaining an OCN accreditation.
Foundation in Workplace Skills Taster
Who’s it for?
Anyone interested in learning about workplace mediation and skills.
Objectives
To understand conflict in the workplace and the mediation process within a work environment.
What you’ll get out of it
A taste of conflict and conflict resolution in the workplace.
Foundation in Workplace Skills Training
Who’s it for?
Anyone interested in learning about workplace mediation and skills, but doesn’t yet want to commit to the full [6-day] course.
Objectives
Understand workplace mediation principles, process and practice.
What you’ll get out of it
Understand workplace mediation principles, process and practice.
Community Mediation Conversion Workshop
Who’s it for?
Accredited mediators who are interested in volunteering for Calm.
Objectives
We ‘convert’ people who have been trained elsewhere to how we do things at Calm.
What you’ll get out of it
We ‘convert’ people who have been trained elsewhere to how we do things at Calm.
Induction
Who’s it for?
Anyone who has recently completed a training course and is not yet familiar with Calm’s procedures/processes.
Objectives
To go over the Calm approach to mediation and referrals, the life of a case, office communication, how calm supports your practice, and Calm’s practice expectations.
What you’ll get out of it
To go over the Calm approach to mediation and referrals, the life of a case, office communication, how calm supports your practice, and Calm’s practice expectations.
Mediation Awareness Session
Who’s it for
To go over the Calm approach to mediation and referrals, the life of a case, office communication, how calm supports your practice, and Calm’s practice expectations
Objectives
We cover what mediation is, what Calm can cover with mediation and how the process works.
What you’ll get out of it
Insight into Calm’s processes and how we deal with referrals.
Individual supervision
Who’s it for
Available to Calm’s volunteers and practitioners.
Objectives
An opportunity to reflect on your mediation practice, explore challenges and successes, and to see how Calm can support you.
What you’ll get out of it
Enhancement of Calm’s mediators’ practice.
Group supervision
Who’s it for?
Available to Calm’s volunteers and practitioners.
Objectives
Sharing good practice, reflecting on challenges experienced and successes in casework.
What you’ll get out of it
Enhancement of Calm’s mediators’ practice.
Development Sessions
Who’s it for?
Available to Calm’s volunteers and practitioners.
Objectives
We cover various topics and feature some of our staff and mediators as guest speakers for their expertise.
What you’ll get out of it
Detailed training workshops from experts and their wealth of knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Calm offer Workplace Mediation?
Calm passes workplace cases to Calm’s current Neighbour Mediation volunteers who are also accredited workplace mediators. They are invited to take paid workplace cases once they have volunteered for our Neighbour service for year. If you’d like to become a Neighbour Mediation volunteer with Calm, please see [here] for the Foundation in Mediation Skills Training and Community Mediation Conversion Courses.
Does Calm offer Civil & Commercial Mediation?
Calm currently does not offer any Civil & Commercial Mediation. If you’re looking for opportunities in this area specifically, you may be able to find something on the Civil Mediation Council website – civilmediation.org
Can I observe mediation at Calm?
Unfortunately Calm only offers observations to our current volunteer mediators for their skills development. You may be able to find organisations on the LCMC contact page who may be able to offer observations: http://www.lcmc.org.uk/contact.html
What does Calm expect from its mediators?
We would expect the time equivalent of at least four cases a year from our volunteer mediators, to keep their skills up. Attendance in at least three development sessions each year. Attendance at a one-to-one supervision and a group supervision each year.
What can mediators expect from Calm?
We hold development sessions every month/two months for upkeep of skills and further development, these sometimes include guest speakers and re-enactments for a more real-life feel. We send out monthly newsletters and we have socials where our volunteers, staff and trustees can meet and mingle!
