Ombuds Training Returns to Washington, DC

The International Ombudsman Association will offer several training opportunities for and about Organizational Ombuds in Baltimore, MD, November 2-6, 2015. The programs include introductory, intermediate and advanced topics.

Three-Day Course

November 2-4

Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice 

This course benefits the recently appointed ombudsman, individuals interested in becoming an ombudsman or anyone desiring to establish an ombudsman function in industry, government, higher education, and public or private social services agencies. 

Instructors: Donna Louden, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Sean Banks, Shell Oil Company; Melissa Broderick, Harvard Medical School; and Ralph Johnson, McKinsey & Company

One-Day Courses

November 5

Mediation Tools for Ombuds

This interactive workshop will explore elements of informal mediation and facilitated conversations for the organizational ombuds. Organizational ombuds can offer informal, confidential mediation or facilitated conversations to support disputant’s efforts towards building understanding and finding resolution to their problem(s). This workshop will provide short presentations to help participants understand basic mediation theory, process and techniques. Additionally, exercises, role-plays and group discussions will be used to demonstrate concepts and give participants a chance to practice what they’ve learned. While the workshop will help practicing ombuds to incorporate informal mediation and facilitated conversation skills into their practice, it will not serve as a full-scale basic mediation training.

Faculty: Tyler Smith, National Institutes of Health

November 6

Applying Psychology in Ombuds: Theoretical & Research Based Skills for Improving Visitor Impact

Crucial components of an Ombuds active listening and problem solving strategies closely align with core principles of common psychological intervention principles. Turning to the field of psychology, this interactive session offers the opportunity for both new and established Ombuds to enhance their skills on a deeper level with active listening and building rapport with visitors. Additionally, Ombuds will learn methods to improving interactions with visitors in eliciting improved understanding of the visitor’s motivations and desires for change and actions. You will have the opportunity to learn the premise and practice specific skills from three psychological intervention strategies of Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Faculty: Brittany Linton, University of Texas at Austin

The training will take place at the Hotel Monaco Baltimore. (IOA Training Info.)