FCO and Osgoode Law Offer Second Ombuds Certificate Program

For the second year, the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman and Osgoode Hall Law School at York University will offer Essentials for Ombuds. The five-day program will be offered September 22–26, 2014 at in downtown Toronto.


The course is "intended to meet the needs of recent appointees to the Ombuds role or Office, as well as providing those with more experience an opportunity to become conversant with both the theory and practice of the Ombuds role, wherever it is located." Here are the details:

Taught by a highly distinguished faculty of practising Ombuds, lawyers and academics from across Canada, all of whom are leaders in their field, the certificate program will give you the theory, knowledge and practical skills to competently and confidently handle day-to-day challenges as well as more complex issues. The teaching style is a mixture of lectures, group discussion and hands-on practical exercises, providing a rich, interactive learning format.

Topics include:

• Scope of today’s Ombudsman role: inquisitorial versus adversarial process
• Initial handling of concerns and complaints
• Choice of path – assessing the issues and possible paths
• Early resolution techniques
• Inquiries and investigations, including: information gathering and assessment of evidence; cooperative resolution techniques; and, preparation of case summaries
• Developing recommendations and appropriate remedies
• Trend analysis and own motion investigations
• Report writing: rationale for different types of reports, including annual reports and special reports; tools for writing an effective annual or special report
• “Speaking Truth to Power”: a roundtable panel discussion
• What’s next for Ombuds? – exploring future challenges and opportunities
• Dealing with human rights complaints against the Ombudsman and/or Ombudsman staff
• Coping with difficult people: handling disrespect, anger or rage
• Recognising and managing the impact of mental health symptoms in the Ombudsman’s practice

The announced faculty are:

• The Hon. Justice Stephen T. Goudge, Ontario Court of Appeal
• Professor Lorne Sossin, Dean, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
• Sheila Wildeman, Associate Professor, Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University
• Nora Farrell, Ombudsperson, Ryerson University
• Laura Bradbury, former Fair Practices Commissioner, WSIB
• Fiona Crean, City of Toronto Ombudsman
• Laura Bradbury, former Fair Practices Commissioner, WSIB
• Anna Martins, Fair Practices Commission of the WSIB
• Marlene Chumak, Assistant Ombudsman, Staff Ombuds Of fi ce, Scotiabank
• Kwame Addo, Director, Investigations & Con fl ict Resolution, Ombudsman City of Toronto
• Renée Gavigan, Acting Deputy Ombudsman, Ombudsman Saskatchewan
• Kim Carter, Ombudsperson for the Province of British Columbia
• Bruce Clarke, Executive Director of Investigations, Of fi ce of the Ombudsperson, British Columbia
• Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator of Canada
• Sandra Morrison, Organizational Ombudsman, Scotiabank, Toronto
• Douglas Melville, Ombudsman and CEO, Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI)
• David B. Butt, Barrister
• Raymonde Saint-Germaine, Québec Ombudsperson
• Guy Parent, Veterans Ombudsman
• Jay Solman, Ombudsperson, Simon Fraser University
• Johanne Savard, Ombudsman, City of Montréal

Registration closes September 15, 2014. (Osgoode Course Info.)
  
Related posts: IOA Unveils Certification Program for Organizational Ombuds; Queen Margaret University is Creating a Center for Ombuds Training; Forum of Canadian Ombudsman Offers Certificate Program.