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Informing | Excellence | Leadership | Collaboration
Latest News
The PMA are looking for a P/T communications assistant
We’re looking for an innovative and confident communications assistant to support the membership manager and to create, manage and deliver a proactive membership marketing strategy. This is a part-time position.
2.5 days a week, Must be available half day Weds, Thurs and Fri
18,000 – 20,000 pro rata
For more details read here
The PMA has made the shortlist! 18/01/2017
The PMA are delighted to announce that our National Mediation Awards has been shortlisted for The Association Excellence Awards 2017 within the following category: Best Association Awards. For the full list of finalists please click here. We look forward to attending the awards ceremony on 31st March 2017 and will keep you all updated!
‘Destructive divorce mediation can leave people vomiting from stress’
Evening Standard 11/11/2016
This support may mean more time is taken to enable the party to take advantage of divorce counselling which will also give them skills to be able to negotiate with confidence, counselling or other personal support as they may require such as financial advice. The mediation itself may at times separate the couples to provide space and freedom to think and consider options and at any time create breaks to allow thinking time or simply to have a break from tension. A skilled experienced mediator will ensure that both parties are able to contribute effectively and don’t feel they have to give up or give in.
In summary none of the most common high conflict personalities borderline, histrionic, narcissistic and adversarial prevent a successful mediation, but it does require an experienced mediator one of the reasons having standards so that prospective clients can check the quality of the mediator is so important."
Free Associate Membership
The Professional Mediators Association (PMA) is a fast growing, not for profit trade body set up in 2007. Our aim is to create a coherent community for mediators across the UK and further afield. We continue to promote the positive benefits of mediation and we believe that the achievements of mediators should be recognised and celebrated nationally and internationally.
The PMA is inviting anyone who is committed to the development and sustainability of the mediation profession to join us for one year. For free.
There are no catches. There is no obligation to remain a member after your first year. (However, we hope that you will remain and perhaps even increase your levels of involvement in the PMA once you see how amazing the organisation is).
For a long time, mediators have been talking about the need for a professional body, well, the PMA seems to offer everything that mediators and those dedicated to co-operative problem solving need and a lot more to boot.
Join the PMA today
It doesn't matter where you practice or what area of mediation you specialise in. We are an organisation without boundaries. Joining the PMA could not be simpler, just go to the PMA website and fill in a form. That's it!
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY FEBRUARY 2016
The Professional Mediators' Association is offering an exciting opportunity for an unpaid intern to take part in an upcoming research project. This is a great chance to learn and develop new skills.
This post would suit an undergraduate in their 3rd year or post-graduate looking to gain some research experience within the working environment. Candidate needs to be pro-active, familiar with research techniques, confident in conducting research interviews, self-motivated and willing to offer 6-8 hours a week for 3 months. This project is London based but you would be able to choose your hours and work from home with the occasional meetings. Please email admin@professionalmediator.org with CV and cover note as to why you would like to take up this opportunity.
February Newsletter 2016
December 2015 Newsletter
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Monday 16th November 2015
CPD EVENTS
Here at the PMA office we are all excited to let our members know that we have negotiated some fantastic discounted prices on the CPD events that are being held by The TCM Group.
Only members of The PMA will be able to take advantage of these prices. However the event is open to all so please book on asap.
The usual price is £160+VAT per half day. We have negotiated a special price for our members of only £95+VAT
Please click on below for course details and if you do want to book on then email admin@professionalmediator.org with TCM DISCOUNT in the subject line and let us know what course you would like to attend. We will inform TCM Group whom will then email you an invoice at the discounted price.
Monday 9th November
The New Board has been selected and will be meeting on the 18th to discuss the handover and prepare for the transition of the PMA.
The New Board Members are;
Sarah Crayford-Brown
Ken Bamford
Sue Harper
Paul Taylor
David Liddle: "Each of you brings a diverse wealth of experience, expertise and passion to the PMA. This is certainly an exciting stage in the lifecycle of the PMA!"
The Mediator: Autumn Edition 2015
The Autumn edition of the newsletter is out, including news from the National Mediation Awards, "Mediation and productivity" and "what can Rugby teach us about managing conflict" 2015
29th October 2015
At the Professional Mediators Association AGM last week, I delivered a speech to our members and partners which outlined the amazing progress that the PMA has made over the past eight years.
The Professional Mediators Association (PMA) is the professional body for mediation and ADR in the UK.
Having successfully set the PMA up and having led the organisation for eight years, it is my view that this is now a great time for me to take a step back and handover what I have started so that the PMA can grow and blossom into an internationally renowned professional association. It is time to hand the baton to a new chair and a new board
Putting the users of mediation first
My vision for the PMA is that it will continue to put the needs and the interests of the users and the purchasers of mediation and dispute resolution services first. The new PMA should balance the need of the consumers of mediation with the needs of the supplier community. There are too many organisations who are focused solely on the needs and interests of suppliers. I hope that the PMA can, and will, be different.
Strategic priorities for the new PMA
When I hand over, there are 7 strategic priorities that I will be urging the new board to focus on:
- 1. Agreeing clear terms of reference and objectives for the new board and the PMA
- 2. Identifying and securing funding and resources
- 3. Extending the emerging accreditation and quality assurance programmes
- 4. Extending and enhancing membership services including CPD
- 5. Developing research initiatives
- 6. Partnership development with similar or like-minded bodies in the UK and overseas
- 7. To continue with the National Mediation Awards, which have proven to be an incredible success
This is the current position
- My resignation as the current leader will come into effect from 31 March 2016.
- In the meantime, a new board will be selected and a new chair and officers will be elected to lead the organisation.
- An independent selection panel will be set up comprising 3 professionals to select the new board. The panel will comprise: one user of mediation services, one mediation professional and one person from outside the industry.
- The selection panel will also develop a role profile for board members. I will assist this process.
- The closing date for applications to join the new PMA board will be Friday 16th October
- Applications to be considered for the new board should be sent to admin@professionalmediator.org
- Full details of the application process will be issued by Friday 2nd October. These will be published on the PMA website and will be emailed to all PMA members and other interested parties via Social media etc.
- The new transitional board will meet on the morning of Thursday 12th November
- The PMA will cut all legal and administrative ties with TCM by 31 March 2016.
- I have offered to remain involved in the PMA, perhaps as an honorary president. I would be happy to support any special interest groups or think tanks that the new board will set up. However, I will no longer be involved in the day to day running of the PMA.
- A Special General Meeting of the PMA will be set up for March 2016 to formalise the new arrangements.
Please get involved in your PMA
This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in the next stage of the development of the PMA. We need strategic thinkers who can get things done. If your organisation uses mediation or you believe that you can speak on behalf of the users and the purchasers of mediation and ADR services, please consider standing for the new board.
Please click here to read full details of the role of PMA board member.
David Liddle is the founder and the President of the Professional Mediators Association.
Mediation: The Results Are In by David Liddle
At TCM, we hear about the benefits of mediation every day. The organisations and individuals who have been through it are eager to tell us: it works. But the more we can learn about how and why mediation works, the better.
Which is why we were so pleased to hear that the conciliation and arbitration service ACAS was carrying out a study into the effects of workplace mediation at the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. TCM developed and supported the integration of a unique and holistic conflict management system at the Trust. TCM trained all the mediators and conflict coaches involved as well as providing ongoing support, assistance and professional development for the mediation programme and associated stakeholders across the Trust. We have been exceptionally pleased with how the system has been working but we were very keen to see the conclusions of such a highly respected report.
Friday,24th April 2015
Getting under the Skin of Workplace Conflict: A Mediator’s Perspective by Andrew Agapiou
Introduction
Key workplace conflict survey findings provided in the April 2015 CIPD employment mediation report (CIPD 2015, ‘Report’) prompt the mediator perspectives explained in this Opinion. The CIPD report explores why one-on-one workplace relationships tend to negativity more readily than any other single circumstance. These perspectives are motivated by the proposition that conflict is inevitable in all human interactions (Callanan, 2007, 10). Report findings confirm mediation can be utilised more often, and at earlier workplace conflict stages than is current common practice.
Click here to read the full post
Tuesday,24th March 2015
An Urgent Need for Regulation of The Mediation Profession by David Liddle
Friday,30th January 2015
The Mediator: January Edition
The latest edition of the PMA newsletter is out,read all about mediation in social media and new PMA developments by clicking on the image below.
Friday,16th Jan 2015
PMA President gets featured in Newsweek: Forbearance and the Professional Mediator
In a recent Newsweek edition on Twenty-First Century Professionals, David Liddle PMA president, spoke to the Professional Associations Research Network (PARN) about the need for professional mediators to facilitate mediations by 'stepping back' and allowing parties to mutually agree on solutions. He advises that although mediators might find it tempting to offer solutions or suggestions to parties a professional mediator must resist this urge. According to David the ability to refrain from this urge to lead parties to solutions is not an innate one but rather a skill borne out of an adherence to the accredited standards that professional mediators must recognise. You can read the full version of the interview including David's suggestions in relation to racial discrimination cases here
You can read more about standards for professional mediators in the PMA code of conduct for mediation practitioners.
PMA Board vacancy: Treasurer wanted
The Professional Mediators’ Association (PMA) is the trade body for mediators working across the UK. We have recently appointed a General Manager to run the PMA and we have secured Michael Gibbons OBE to act as patron. The board is extremely active and comprises academics, mediation providers, lawyers and large blue chip companies. We have an exciting business plan in place which will ensure that the PMA experiences substantial growth during 2015-it is definitely a great time to join us.
The PMA National Mediation Awards 2014
29th Sep 2014The National Mediation Awards 2014, organised by the Professional Mediators’ Association (PMA) celebrated the cutting edge of current mediation practice, setting out a vision for alternative ways of resolving conflict in these difficult times.
Independent mediator of the year
Smile Mediation
Highly commended: Mediation Services
Award for Innovation in Online Dispute Resolution:
Highly commended:Brandon Trust ‘Mediation First’
Join the Professional Mediators Association
The PMA is a unique and growing professional network, run by mediators, for mediators. Its aim is to promote excellence in mediation, improve professional practice and raise the profile of mediation as means of dispute and conflict resolution, whether at home, at work, in business or as a consumer.
Join the PMA today and you can also be part of this active community where you can network and make contact with likeminded individuals, passionate about mediation and conflict resolution. It costs only £60 a year for an individual member or £300 for corporate membership, but that enables up to 12 in house mediators to benefit from PMA membership. For further information Email admin@professionalmediator.org and ask for a membership form or visit www.professionalmediator.org.
The PMA provides information and support for new and experienced mediators; advocacy and campaigns to raise the profile of mediation and ensure the work of our members is recognised, such as the National Mediation Awards and mediation news to help you stay up to date with the latest developments in mediation and dispute resolution. In addition it promotes continuing professional development and provides exacting professional standards for mediators to follow. This helps toreassure purchasers and users of mediation services that PMA members will operate within a strict and rigorous professional framework and this makes membership of the PMA essential for all practicing mediators.
Founded in 2007, the PMA is an independent, not for profit trade association for mediators, in-house mediation schemes and mediation organisations and mediation training providers. The PMA is governed by an independent board and has a governance framework which ensures that the organisation is fully accountable to its membership. Members come from a number of different mediation specialties and from across the UK (and increasingly it is attracting members from around the globe).
Join the PMA today, email admin@professionalmediator.org and ask for an application form or go to the website, www.professionalmediator.org
For immediate release: 27th February 2014
Mediation movement gains momentum
· Mediators professional body launches drive for new members.
· Exciting opportunity to join this growing organisation.
· PMA members shape the landscape of dispute resolution.
The Professional Mediators Association (PMA) is an independent professional network, run by mediators, for mediators. Its aim is to promote excellence in mediation; to improve professional practice and to raise the profile of mediation as an effective means of dispute and conflict resolution in all aspects of UK life - whether at home, at work, in business or as a consumer. We are inviting all mediators across the UK to join this exciting organisation. Visit www.professionalmediator.org to find out more and to join the PMA.
Growing the PMA
Mediators are highly skilled communicators and problem solvers. They act as impartial third parties, bringing disputes to a constructive and acceptable resolution in over 80% of cases. Each year, thousands of mediators are trained. Not all will continue to practice as a mediator, but for those that do, the PMA can support them as they develop their mediation skills and progress their career. To that end, the PMA is launching a membership drive and is reaching out to newly trained mediators, experienced mediators, and mediation training providers - inviting them to join a growing support network of professional mediators and dispute resolution specialists, with the PMA at its hub.
"Working as a mediator can sometimes feel a bit solitary. Joining the PMA helps to keep me in touch with other mediators, review my practice and gives me opportunities to develop my mediation skills".
Sheila Thorne, PMA member
What are the benefits of joining the PMA?
The PMA keeps its members up to date on a range of mediation topics; it acts as an advocate and campaigner to raise the profile of mediation and it provides a programme of continuing professional development for mediators delivered by accredited PMA mediation training providers. In addition, the PMAhosts the National Mediation Awards, designed to celebrate and reward success in all aspects of mediation. Previous winners include Marks and Spencer, Lloyds Banking Group, DHL plus many other. Importantly, the PMA also provides exacting professional standards for mediators to follow www.professionalmediator.org
“The PMA reassures purchasers and users of mediation services that PMA members will operate within a rigorous professional framework, making membership of the PMA vital for all practicing mediators.”
David Liddle, President of the PMA
Join the mediation movement and make a difference
Currently, PMA members come from many different mediation specialties and from across the UK (and increasingly from around the globe). PMA members have a voice to influence government policy and decision making as well as shaping their trade association to best meet both individual needs and the needs of a blossoming profession.
The PMA welcome applications from individual mediators or organisations with in house mediation schemes or interest in conflict resolution. Contact Sheila Thorne,
at admin@professionalmediator.org or visit www.professionalmediator.org
-ENDS-
Notes
The PMA was founded in 2007 and is an independent, not for profit trade association representing mediators, in-house mediation schemes and mediation organisations and mediation training providers. The PMA is governed by an independent board and has a governance framework which ensures that the organisation is fully accountable to its membership.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a process of dispute resolution in which an impartial third party (the mediator) facilitates a series of private and joint meeting with the parties to identify a mutually acceptable and appropriate resolution. Mediation is a voluntary, non-binding process which addresses the underlying (root) causes of conflict or tension. Mediators create the conditions for dialogue using a non-adversarial, non-partisan approach. The final outcome of mediation is agreed by the parties, not the mediator.
What sort of cases can be mediated?
· Workplace and employment disputes
· Consumer disputes
· Civil and commercial disputes
· Family disputes
· Neighbourhood disputes
Interview with the mediation award winning Marks & Spencer
3rd Oct 2013
Marks and Spencer’s won The President’s Awards at The PMA National Mediation Awards 2013. Michelle Gregory from mediation company The TCM Group has conducted an interview with Jacqueline Hallam, People Policy Specialist, to find out how mediation has made a difference at M&S.
Michelle: In your opinion, how has using mediation made a difference at Marks and Spencer?
Jacqueline: “Mediation has provided an additional mechanism for individuals to resolve their work place concerns particularly where the circumstances have led to entrenched attitudes and a seemingly “dead end” or “going around in circles” impasse. A significant number of cases have resulted in agreements being reached between the individuals and their line managers where the working relationship had broken down, and the parties believed that working together was no longer tenable. We also know from feedback employees find resolving grievances informally less stressful, more effective, and a quicker solution than raising a formal grievance.”M: How has a mediation culture benefitted the role of leadership at Marks and Spencer?
J: “The company has a highly skilled team of line managers who have the ability to facilitate difficult situations but do not always take the opportunity to “nip issues in the bud”. Promotion of the “Let’s talk about it and move on ....” model has emphasised the range of informal options available to them and their line reports. Early senior management intervention has seen successful informal resolution rather than cases escalating to formal grievances. Currently a third of grievances are being successfully resolved using this model.”The full interview can be found here.
You can see the full list of the winners, highly commended and shortlisted from the awards here.
BACK TO ARTICLES
Moving Mediation into the Mainstream: The National Mediation Awards 2013
18th Jul 2013Professional mediators, whether independent consultants, or part of an internal mediation programme, make an outstanding contribution to their organisations and to the field of collaborative justice.
The National Mediation Awards 2013, organised by the Professional Mediators’ Association and sponsored by Executive Grapevine, celebrates and rewards success in all aspects of workplace, employment, business and consumer mediation.
This year, the awards are being held on the 26th September 2014 at The Law Society in London.
The Judging panel includes Michael Gibbons - author of the famous Gibbons review of dispute resolution plus many other big names from the world of mediation and dispute resolution.
Nominations couldn’t be simpler
There is an exciting array of award categories this year and full details of the award criteria can be found on the PMA website here.
· Independent Mediator of the year (open to all external or panel mediators)
· Mediation Scheme of the Year (For schemes over 12 months in operation)
· Best newcomer to mediation (For Mediation schemes less than 12 months old)
· In-house Mediator of the Year
· Mediation scheme co-ordinator of the year
· Mediation Champion 2013
To submit your nominations click here.
Nominations close on the 16th August.
Launch of national research programme into workplace mediation
28th Mar 2013.jpg)
The LGA in partnership with the UK's trade body for mediators - The Professional Mediators' Association (The PMA) are launching a national research programme which will examine the use, the impact and the benefits of mediation across Local Government.
Sarah Messenger. Head of Workforce. LGA stated:
"The LGA supports the use of mediation within Local Government as an effective means of resolving complaints, managing change and handling workplace disputes. There are benefits in terms of reduced costs, maintaining relationships and offering value for money."
More and more local government organisations are now using mediation to resolve workplace and employment disputes. The models of mediation vary between organisations and there is not a one-size fits all approach to mediation. As a result, very little coherent evidence is available relating to the use, the impact or the benefits of mediation. The findings from this national research will help the LGA and the PMA to provide effective support to the sector and will also set a benchmark for LGA members
David Liddle, president of the PMA commented today:
"This groundbreaking research will help local government organisations better understand the various uses and benefits of mediation. This understanding will help with local, regional and national policy making thus helping to make mediation part of the systems, processes and values of local government."
Following the research, a detailed report will be published by LGA and the PMA in late spring 2013. The findings from the report will be discussed at a conference in summer 2013.
Read the original press release www.professionalmediator.org/uploads/textareas/LGA PMA Press Release(1).pdfhere.
Mediation Event not to be missed!
There was great excitement throughout the mediation community when the Professional Mediation Association hosted the first ever National Awards for Mediation last year. The event was well attended by mediators from across the spectrum, and there was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the work mediators do both as individual practitioners and as part of in house mediation teams.
The PMA are proud to announce that we will be runnning the National Mediation Awards again for 2013. This year the Award Categories have been expanded to include the “Mediation Champion” Award. These awards are an opportunity to recognise best practice in a number of areas and the dedication and hard work that lie behind successful mediation and mediation schemes. We are delighted that this year’s event is, once again, sponsored by Executive Grapevine.
The categories for the awards are:
- Mediation Scheme of the Year (Over 12 months in operation)
- In-House Mediator of the Year
- Mediation Scheme Co-ordinator of the Year
- Best Newcomer to Mediation (Mediation schemes less than 12 months old)
- Independent Mediator of the Year (open to all external or panel mediators)
- Plus new category for 2013 Mediation Champion of the Year (To reward endeavours for raising the profile of mediation
- President's Award for overall mediation best practice - chosen by PMA President
To complete an entry form for one of the awards, please click here or to nominate, email Irene.grindell@professionalmediator.org. Closing date for receipt of completed nominations is 5pm on 5th July 2013. Please find the terms and conditions here.
Last year’s winners were:
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Leatham Green (East Sussex County Council)
- Julie Foster (Hertfordshire Constabulary)
- Mary Siddall (Southampton University)
- The University of Kent
- Dilys Lloyd
Key dates for your Diary
The Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday the 26th September 2013 in London. Please put the date in your diary and contact The PMA if you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else.
Nonimations open on 8th April 2013 at 9am. Please check back here for an application form.
“Mediation is a non-adversarial way of resolving difficult situations. It is used as an alternative to formal or legal processes. Mediation is commonly referred to as a mind-set; a framework; and a set of skills. The mediator is as an impartial third party. They help the two or more parties have an open and honest dialogue to identify a mutually acceptable outcome. Awin/win outcome. Mediation is different because it about collaborating rather than blaming. Any agreement in mediationcomes from those in dispute, not from the mediator. The mediator is not there to judge, to say one person is right and the other wrong, or to tell those involved in the mediation what they should do. Mediation is both voluntary and confidential” - David Liddle, 2013
The Professional Mediators association was formed in 2007 to act as a professional body for a community of mediators working across the UK and around the world. The PMA exists to raise awareness of mediation and to promote excellence in all aspects of business, workplace, employment and consumer mediation. Our aim is to provide a voice for professional mediators and to influence government policy and decision making whilst raising the profile and standards of mediation practice.
The PMA has a set of clearly developed practice standards and an exacting competency framework which ensures each member’s credibility. There are 4 PMA values; Informing, Excellence, Transparency and collaboration.
NLP with the PMA
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy developed in the 1970s. The name refers to a stated connection between the neurological processes ("neuro"), language ("linguistic"), and behavioral patterns that have been learned through experience ("programming") and can be organised to achieve specific goals in life.
This highly interactive one-day workshop covered the basic NLP tools and techniques that we can use as mediators, coaches and managers.
First we looked at Meta Programming which explores how people make choices/decisions: what is their strategy for doing things. This is a useful tool as it helps the mediator to understand the parties’ motives, their internal world if you like, so we can judge less and empathise more. Meta Programming helps mediators match parties’ language pattern which in turn helps them to listen and makes sense of what we ask of them and, just as importantly, what we summarise back to them. Sometimes a simple adjustment of our language can be the difference that makes the difference.
VAKOG, Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic, Olfactory, Gustatory.
An example of how it might play out:
Party 1: I will never forget the way he spoke to me that day and how I ended up feeling.
Mediator: Would it help if you could separate out the feeling (K) from the words used (A), so that you can think about the event without having to feel the emotions?
Party 1: How would that work?
Mediator: If you had a choice how would you have liked to have felt?
Party 1: In control, confident and self assured.
Mediator: Ok so now repeat what X said feeling safe, confident, assertive……..
“If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. George Orwell 1984