FCO roll out overseas training for First Response Officer service
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has started their innovative training programme to establish a number of First Response Officer posts overseas with training in Ghana now complete. The First Response Officer role has been designed as the first line of support to any staff with concerns around bullying, harassment or discrimination. This role will also link with and work in partnership with the new FCO Dispute Resolution Caseworkers; a new one stop-shop service to support any member of staff involved in a workplace dispute.
Roland Chesters, Policy and Strategic Communications Desk Officer from the FCO Diversity Strategy Unit, has given initial feedback from the project:
“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was pleased to commission CMP Resolutions to provide training for First Response Officers (FROs). FROs are volunteers trained as a first contact point, a listening ear and a sign-poster for colleagues who feel that they may have been bullied, harassed or discriminated against, who may have witnessed someone else on the receiving end of that kind of behaviour or may indeed have been accused of being the perpetrator of that behaviour. Seven training sessions are being held between June and September around the world including Dubai, Singapore, Washington; and South Africa.
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The first session in Ghana, was recently completed to wide acclaim. The delegates commented how the training was fun, exciting and interesting:
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Trainee FROs and CMP trainers on the training in Accra, Ghana
Katherine Graham MD at CMP adds “It is a great privilege to be able to support the FCO in this way. Our trainers have thought hard about how to ensure a strong cultural fit for each of the training destinations, as well as making sure the courses are consistent, and enjoyable to attend, so the endorsement of their efforts shown by the feedback from Ghana is really positive.”
The innovative approach at the FCO brings together the First Response Officer with the Dispute Resolution Caseworker to support staff worldwide. Kevin Brant, Employee Relations Advisor, said “Whilst First Response Officers, will do just that, act as a first response mechanism for staff involved in a dispute with colleagues, Dispute Resolution Caseworkers will be able to provide further assistance to staff by offering mediation and grievance investigation services. Working with CMP on both projects has meant a strong continuity between the two projects and a consistency of training delivery and skill development”.