EEAST’s team of mediators expands

The Trust’s Mediation Service has been bolstered by the news that eight people have passed their ACAS theory based training and practical assessments.

Caroline Nwadu, Casey Holding, Mark Wibberley, Gareth Doman, Emma Jones, Nathan Marks, Richard Holt and Sheridan Hudson have joined the team and will carry out mediation work around their substantive posts.    

The team is dedicated to working with colleagues to help them find their own solutions to workplace disagreements using open dialogue. 

Zoe Hutchison, who coordinates referrals with the team, is clear on the benefits of mediation. 

“Disagreement or conflict in the workplace can be stressful and distracting," Zoe says. "It can affect your wellbeing and take up your valuable time; it can also distract others around you from doing their job and can be stressful for them. Mediation can help you resolve your disagreement so you can get on with your life inside and outside of work.

“When you are involved in a disagreement, talking to the other person can seem impossible.  Mediation can re-establish those channels of communication. Any agreement is on terms agreed by you, leaving both parties in control of what is finally agreed.

“Mediation can be less stressful than formal procedures - although it is not stress free!”

Mediation is completely voluntary and confidential – nothing shared with the mediator will be passed on to anyone else unless agreed by all parties.

The mediators don’t take sides or judge who is right or wrong. The objective is to focus on the future, to find improvements and to rebuild relationships.

The Trust actively encourages early intervention approaches to resolve any workplace disagreement. 

For more information on early intervention approaches log on to Evolve to access Early Intervention Conversations (Addressing staff concerns and conflict) MPT module and for more information on Mediation and Mediation referrals click on the Trust intranet “You Matter” pages or contact Zoe Hutchison, Mediation Lead on zoe.hutchison@eastamb.nhs.uk.