Neutral and Independent Arbiter:
Ombudsman Service for the Coaching and Mentoring Industry consumers

What can the Coaching and Mentoring Industry Ombudsman Service, do you for?
  • The Ombudsman Service is free of charge.
    For this reason, this service is accessible to all consumers who cannot afford to pursue their disputes or complaints through the courts.
  • The Ombudsman Service is committed to both achieving redress for the consumer, as well as working with the Professional Bodies and Formal Education Bodies to identify systemic failings.
  • A single investigation may be incorporated into multiple disputes/complaints about the same topic.
    This avoids duplication, excessive cost, and identifies systemic failings.
  • The dispute/complaint will be progressed where it is not already the subject of court proceedings.
  • The Ombudsman Service is a neutral and independent arbiter; and is not an advocate nor a consumer champion.
  • The Ombudsman Service recommends that the consumer raises their dispute/complaint with the relevant Coach, Mentor, Support Group, Formal Education Body, Private Commercial Training Organisation, Professional Body or Commercial Organisation.
  • The first step of any dispute or complaint is to facilitate a resolution, by working with the consumer and the individual/organisation, without resorting to a formal investigation.
  • The IRCM accepts that facilitation may have been undertaken by the Complainant previously and been unsuccessful.  Where this is the case, the Complainant is required to provide full details of the facilitation.
  • Where a resolution is not found through facilitation, the consumer may select to progress to a formal complaint where an in-depth and formal investigation will be undertaken.
  • Where the Ombudsman Service identifies an injustice, it seeks to put this right.
  • Where the Ombudsman Service identifies a systemic failing, working with Professional Bodies and Formal Education Bodies, it seeks to put this right.
  • The IRCM recognises that consumers are clients, students, members of Professional Bodies and Support Groups, coaches, mentors, or owners/members of staff of organisations within the coaching and mentoring industry.  Where the consumer is training to be a coach/mentor, or is a coach, or mentor, or owner/member of staff of an organisation, this brings an additional level of review into the conduct of the consumer.