Mediation Services and Mediation Training for Councils and Local Authorities
Practical, Impartial support to reduce conflict, strengthen communities, and build confidence across frontline teams.
Conflict can place significant pressure on council workers who are already working under pressure. We facilitate conversations for low level disputes between colleagues and provide mediation services for more complex or long running disputes between co-workers and are well-versed in mediating team conflicts. We also provide a variety of training courses to empower council staff to respond early, reduce escalation, and support team members to find constructive ways forward.
Our Experience with Councils and Local Authorities
Essential Mediation Solutions (EMS) has many years of experience working with councils and local authorities, supporting a wide range of teams and services to resolve conflict constructively. Our work across multiple councils has given us a strong understanding of the pressures faced by local government, including housing demand, neighbourhood disputes, antisocial behaviour, community tensions and complaint escalation. We have experienced the very wide variety of departments in Councils from Planning, Housing, Families and Children, Grounds Work, Waste Collection, Environmental Health and more!
This experience means we understand the importance of practical, proportionate, and timely support. We are used to working alongside council officers, housing teams, community safety partners, elected members, voluntary sector organisations and we can adapt our approach to fit existing referral pathways, safeguarding procedures, case management processes, and local priorities.
Our Mediation Services
Drawing on our experience with multiple councils and local authorities over many years, we provide flexible mediation support for local authority departments and partner agencies, helping teams manage conflict sensitively and proportionately. Services can be delivered in person, online, or through a blended approach depending on the needs of the case and the people involved.
- Facilitated Conversations between colleagues to nip conflict in the bud
- Mediation Services for more complex and/or entrenched disputes
- Mediation following a grievance procedure to help repair the damage of a formal process
- Mediation to aid staff on sick leave, due to workplace conflict, return to workplace where mediation is appropriate and participants can engage safely
- Mediation of team conflict within council services, and where appropriate a Team Culture training event to empower teams to have ownership of the culture they would prefer for their team
- Conflict coaching for individuals who need one-to-one support to prepare for difficult conversations or manage ongoing conflict more effectively
"Excellent, understanding and professional at all times, couldn't ask for better...The session was positive-both had the opportunity to speak and both appear to have understood each others viewpoints on situations that have occurred. I feel positive about the future."
I felt valued and listened to which during a very sensitive and emotive time was greatly appreciated. I was unsure at first however on reflection I feel that this was the best way forward in rebuilding a fractured working relationship. With the structure and focusing on a way to move forward whilst still addressing the past, it was the right balance.
