OCP Mediation Services.

OCP MEDIATION SERVICES

Accredited Mediator Specialists in Personal Relationship (Community/Neighbour, etc), Workplace Mediation &Mentoring/Sounding Board Services

Leeds North Yorkshire West Yorkshire North of England UK & Beyond (online)

About OCP Mediation Services

OCP Mediation Services is based near Leeds and specialises in resolving Personal Relationship (Community/Partner/Partnership/Family/Neighbour) and Workplace disputes, using only experienced Accredited Mediators. All at cost effective fees, without resorting to costly litigation. Additionally, we also provide Mentoring/Sounding Board services for those requiring a discreet and confidential ‘listening ear’.

Personal Relationship (Community/Partner/Partnership/Family/Neighbour, etc) Mediation (PRM) being the more cost sensitive is generally restricted to a fifteen to twenty miles radius of Leeds for f2f, but remote/online dispute settlements can be carried out further afield. This can be discussed on the merits and requirements of the parties. There is also available, where appropriate, a simpler and more economic Shorter Mediation Model (SMM) for less serious or complicated disputes.

Workplace Mediation, (WPM) on the other hand, is generally practised f2f throughout, but not limited to, the North of England or online by Zoom . Please contact to discuss f2f dispute settlements outside of this area.

Mentoring/Sounding Board services (MSM) are usually delivered remotely either online or by telephone. Click here to go to MSM page.

All of the above services can be accessed in any location throughout the UK and beyond through remote online services.

email : mail@ocpmediationservices.co.uk

Why OCP Mediation Services?

· Cost effective alternative/solution to non-financial disputes between people, whether at work or in the community.

· All mediations (f2f or Remote) carried out by fully accredited and experienced Community and Workplace Mediators.

· Complete confidentiality between the Mediator and the parties. Only what the parties wish to be discussed or divulged on the day.

· Complete impartiality between the parties. It is not our role to decide who is right or wrong but to assist parties in finding a resolution.

· Completely voluntary procedure working towards an agreement composed of the parties’ own words.

· Completely independent of outside bodies, employers or the community.

· The process does not lead to a legally binding contract but an agreement that parties can be measured and monitored to achieve compliance, with remedies to get back on track if temporarily deviated.

· Very high success rate across all the mediation services offered.

Who should use our services?

Personal Relationships

(a) Difficult/extended relationship/behavioural disputes between any individuals or small organisations/individuals, including partnerships that do not involve monetary issues to be ascertained and settled.

(b) Difficult/extended family/relatives/group/s behavioural disputes that do not involve monetary issues to be ascertained and settled.

(c) Difficult/extended behavioural/boundary/trees/hedges, etc, issues between neighbours that do not involve monetary issues to be ascertained and settled.

(d) Simple relationship/behavioural disputes between any individuals that do not involve monetary issues to be ascertained and settled.

(e) Parties who need or wish to re-establish relations with other parties that they have to deal with on a day to day basis, in a very cost-effective way.

Workplace

(a) Relationship/behavioural problems between staff/employees/teams/groups or line management.

(b) Relationship/behavioural problems between trustees/directors/management colleagues.

How much will it cost?

As can be imagined, this will very much depend on the service that you require. If you already know what you want then you can track down below to ‘What will it cost?’ However, we would then urge you to read all the other helpful headings below ‘What is Mediation?/How is it carried out?/Where will it take place?/How long will it take?/Will I be legally bound by the outcome?/What is the next step to get started?’ This will help to guide you through the process, as to which suits you, your organisation or business.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a carefully managed process of bringing parties together in a non-combative meeting to assist the parties to explore the issues in dispute and find sufficient common ground to achieve a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to each party. The main factors of all mediations is that they are totally confidential, impartial regarding all parties, a voluntary process for all parties, independent of Referrers (where appropriate) and cannot form any part of subsequent legal proceedings should an agreement not be achieved. However, not all disputes are suitable for mediation. Enquirers should therefore make contact, as above, to discuss without obligation as to whether their dispute is suitable for mediation.

How is it carried out?

Personal Relationships (PRM)

The initial stages are far less formal than other forms of mediation, such as Commercial or Workplace and in the process of cost-effectiveness it is not suited to legal representation. The parties are also responsible for signing the appointment and confidentiality agreements.

Brief details of each party’s case are related to the Mediator before the day during a telephone conversation to briefly discuss their case and the day’s procedure. Attendees of the meeting are agreed between the parties, before the day.

On the day, the procedure starts with the Joint Meeting and then proceeds with a structured discussion. The object is to reach a voluntary agreement, drafted by the Mediator in the parties’ own words. Each of the parties receives a copy of the agreement which, in this form, is not legally binding. This, along with the drafting of an agreement, could take around two hours, depending on the complexity. All OCP Mediation Services’ fee/costs are divided between the parties and are payable in advance. All of this applies whether as remote or f2f Mediation.

The Shorter Mediation Model (SMM)

This is a more economic and truncated version of the Personal Relationships that is restricted to less serious disputes involving behavioural/relationship and non-monetary issues. In order to reduce costs the SMM has been designed to be conducted completely by remote video (Zoom) or telephone. However, a face to face (f2f) meeting can be arranged but would reduce the cost-effectiveness of this model. On the day, following a previous brief telephone contact with each party, the parties attend the Joint Meeting with a target for a resolution/agreement within an hour. Again, attendees of the meeting are agreed between the parties, before the day. All parties, once again, must sign a confidentiality agreement before commencing the Joint Meeting. The object is to reach a voluntary agreement, drafted by the Mediator in the parties’ own words. Each of the parties receives a copy of the agreement which in this form is not legally binding. As with Personal Relationships cases, OCP Mediation Services’ fee/costs are divided between the parties and are payable in advance.

It should be noted that both the Personal Relationships Model and the Shorter Mediation Model could be limited in their application and some issues will not be suitable for Mediation. Further guidance about this can be obtained by contacting the e-mail address above/below, outlining the issues.

Workplace

These are usually commissioned by the management or HR department of an organisation or business (known as the Referrer).

The contract in these cases will be between the Referrer and OCP Mediation Services but the parties, on the day, will also be required to sign confidentiality agreements. In the case of f2f, if the Referrer cannot supply a venue, rooms and (if necessary) refreshments, then this can be organised by OCP Mediation Services and will be added to the fee and costs.

OCP Mediation Services’ fees (and costs, where applicable) will normally be required to be paid by the Referrer before the day of the mediation. However, it is understood that in some Governmental bodies and Organisations this may not be possible and the contract can be adapted, to payment within 30 days, by agreement. Attendees of the meeting are agreed between the parties, before the day.

On the day, the Mediator will meet/be introduced to the parties for the first time. They will then be extensively interviewed, individually, to allow them to express the history, the issues, their concerns and what they would like to achieve. This interview can take around an hour and a half for each party. Everything discussed in these initial interviews remains securely confidential and therefore cannot be divulged to the other party(ies) or the Referrer. The parties are then asked to produce short opening statements for the Joint Meeting after which the Mediator reviews and assists each party to deliver their message with the optimum benefit of the process.

The Joint Meeting between the parties usually then takes place after lunch to allow an uninterrupted period.

After the opening statements, the Mediator commences a discussion based upon the issues raised in the opening statements. The meeting could take two to three hours during which, if necessary, short breaks can be taken.

The objective of the day is for the parties to air their views, respectfully and, hopefully, reach a written agreement in their own words, drafted by the Mediator. The parties then sign the agreement along with the Mediator, as witness, and are each given a copy with a further copy retained to be forwarded to the Referrer, with the parties’ permission.

Conclusion:

Mediation is a voluntary procedure and agreement can only be achieved if all parties participate enthusiastically, but cannot be guaranteed. It is not the role of the Mediator to decide issues but to remain totally impartial whilst assisting the parties to find an agreeable resolution to their dispute. It is also not the role of the Mediator to mediate on wider issues outside the issues of the dispute. Above all, the Parties can be assured of complete confidentiality by the Mediator in not revealing anything that is discussed in either the initial private interviews or the Joint Meeting without the consent of the party(ies). This is of particular note in Workplace cases where employees may have concerns about private issues being related back to their HR, management or colleagues.

Where will it take place?

Personal Relationships and the Shorter Mediation Model

The initial separate party contact, with the Mediator, is by telephone but occasionally (if strictly necessary) can take place on site with the parties to view location based issues. The Joint Meeting between the parties takes place preferably by Remote Mediation or at a neutral venue with all necessary facilities for the comfort and safety of the participants.

Workplace

According to the preference of the Referrer this can take place either remotely or f2f. The latter can be held at a private part of the Referrer’s business/organisation with the agreement of the parties. However, alternatively, where applicable, it could be held at a neutral venue rather than the place of work. This can remove concerns about making accidental contact with members of the rest of the workforce and the subsequent loss of privacy. Additionally, this can also remove any possible power imbalance between the parties.

How long will it take?

Personal Relationships

Being, usually, much simpler and more informal this could (subject to parties/Mediator availability) start within a couple of weeks, depending once again upon the parties, Mediator and f2f venue availability. Usually, pre-meeting party telephone conversations (or occasionally site meetings) take place at a time to suit each party and can each last about half an hour. The Joint Meeting takes place on a day, as soon as possible, after the initial telephone contact, and usually lasts about two hours for Personal Relationships mediation. Where appropriate and convenient the Joint Meeting can be arranged to follow the initial telephone contact calls. This can be discussed after your initial enquiry.

The Shorter Mediation Model

This should last around an hour. Legal representation at Personal Relationships and SMM joint meetings is not possible (or appropriate) as part of the lower cost formats. As with the Personal Relationships mediation process the Mediator may request a brief pre-meeting telephone conversation.

Workplace

In these disputes, however, subject again to the choice of remote or f2f, availability of attendees, the Mediator (and where applicable, a f2f venue) the party meetings and the Joint Meeting could probably take place within a couple of weeks. The initial interviews, Joint Meeting and hopefully an agreement would all take place within one day, except in the case of multiple parties of four or more. Usually, the separate party meetings with the Mediator would each take about an hour and a half with a follow up meeting later and the Joint Meeting usually around two to three hours.

Will I be legally bound by the outcome?

In Personal Relationships, the Shorter Mediation Model and Workplace mediations the emphasis is not to do with any financial matters but those of behavioural issues and the improvement in a continuing relationship. Therefore, in the spirit of such agreements, an informal agreement (if achieved) is drafted at the end of the meeting for all parties to sign and each take away a copy. In the case of a Workplace mediation, a copy may be requested by the Referrer, subject to the agreement of the parties.

What will it cost?

As can be appreciated from the differing mediation models above the fees for each model can differ considerably plus the variable as to the f2f venue/rooms, where applicable.

Personal Relationships

These case fees are intended to reflect the relative simplicity, reduced time and formality of the matter in dispute and are for guidance only.

(a) From £175 per party for Remote mediation (including VAT) or from £250 (plus VAT) per party where court proceedings have already started.

(b) From £200 per party for f2f including venue, where appropriate, (including VAT) or from £350 (plus VAT) per party where court proceedings have already started.

Both of these fee rates are dependent on the complexity and location (where applicable) of the case and are for example purposes/guidance only.

All fees must be paid to OCP Mediation Services before the mediation day.

The Shorter Mediation Model

This can be a very cost effective way of resolving non-financial and simple but stressful disputes, particularly as the fee/costs are divided between the parties.

(a) From £100 per party for Remote mediation (including VAT).

(b) From £125 per party for f2f including venue, where appropriate, (including VAT).

Both of these fee rates are dependent on the issues (see appropriate sections above) and are for example purposes only.

All fees must be paid to OCP Mediation Services before the mediation day. Not all disputes are suitable for this model.

Workplace

These fees are higher than both of the Community models owing to the preparation time, documentation and the Mediator’s time and, where applicable, expenses on the day of the mediation. The total cost of the Workplace Mediation is usually borne by the employer and not the parties involved. It is usual for the Referrer to supply the f2f venue (subject to suitability), However, where the Referrer wishes OCP Mediation Services to hold a f2f mediation and find a venue, rooms and refreshments, then this will be reflected in the costs charged for this service. It is, therefore, not possible to supply definitive figures for f2f Workplace Mediation.

(a) From £500 + VAT, for one day, for Remote Workplace mediation, depending on the complexity of the case/number of parties.

(b) From £575 + VAT, for one day, for f2f Workplace mediation (excluding a venue), depending on the location/complexity/number of parties.

What is the next step to get started?

As there isn’t a completely standard mediation model for any type of mediation then the first step is to contact OCP Mediation Services on the email address below, outlining the issues of your problems/case, for a no obligation enquiry to determine if your case is suitable for mediation. Our mediators have a very high success rate built on years of experience and client satisfaction. Once email contact is made then we will get back to you as soon as possible with a response and, if required we can set up a time to telephone and discuss your case in more detail.

email : mail@ocpmediationservices.co.uk

Last updated 17 January 2023