What kind of work backgrounds do participants come from?
Many participants are at a choice point in their careers, looking to develop particular skills and awareness or are looking to develop a human relations approach to their practice. Many more come to the school to deepen their skills in the peer learning and partnership approaches we are well known for and to apply them in their current work settings. Essentially this results in a majority of participants coming from human service organisations or organisations that want to bring a human service orientation to their work whether through leadership, managing, work practices or change processes.
What does Oasis mean by Human Services?
Human Services refers to those organisations offering helping activities in which the quality of the relationship is core and out of the quality of the relationship arises the effectiveness of the intervention. Those delivering human services have roles were there is a need for more ‘human’ than ‘technical’ skills, or where the most effective service is provided by those able to apply the most appropriate human relations practice in the situation being met.
Human Services differ from other types of organisation as they need to integrate: a higher level of complexity in respect to the numbers of stakeholders involved; the range of diversity being incorporated; the degree of collaborative and partnership working; a myriad of intangible aspects and having to address multi-audience measures.
Examples of such organisations include:
- Government Partnership Boards
- Children and Youth Services: SureStart, Connexions, Trusts
- Hospices,
- Social Services,
- Refugee agencies,
- Crisis and support-based services,
- certain aspects of Health Care,
- Learning Organisations,
- Counselling Centres,
- Housing Plus Associations,
- etc.
Does Oasis work with organisations other than Human Services?
Yes. Businesses that offer product based services, but where a helping relationship is not always the central focus, want to enhance their human relations skills and approaches. We are often approached to help in these circumstances. For instance, Building Societies and Financial Services, Housing, Police Service, Universities, Businesses interested in responsible leadership, etc.
In addition, some commercial and public sector companies want to develop their human relations, participation or collaborative strategic capacities within staff groups or specific teams. This area of work increases as many organisations realise that a strategy can be excellent but without developing mutual commitment and co-operative forms of working, it can go very awry. Our clients in this grouping include Information Technology, FTSE 100 companies, Telecommunications, etc.
Why does Oasis use the term Human Relations rather than Human Resources?
We believe that whatever the original intention, terms such as human resources and human capital detract from the focus on the human relationship. Whilst the term human capital was intended to suggest that the human aspect needs investment and attention, it can result in humans being considered in a similar light to a commodity, something that can be owned and enhanced. A term more related to slavery than freedom and self-determination.
Human Resources is often differentiated into human resource management and human resource development. The former represents the technical elements such as legislation, hiring and firing, procedures etc. whilst the latter focuses on the development questions surrounding culture, individuals, processes and so on. Traditionally, these areas are in conflict with each other as one has a strong focus on status quo, with the other on change and transformation. The integration of organisational learning and strategic development within human resources is often secondary, and the term ‘resources’ has a similar impact as ‘capital’.
The Oasis Human Relations approach focuses on working with questions such as ‘where are you now?’ and ‘what are the key issues you are addressing?’ as the starting points. Out of a dialogue between those involved, emerge the core questions and the beginning of any development process.
The term human relations sustains and communicates the emphasis we place on both the relationship and the humanity inherent in the work and the approach to the work.
How are some programmes free?
In association with Oasis a charitable foundation was established in 2002, Oasis Development Education Foundation (ODEF). Part of its work in the UK is assisting people from not-for-profit sector organisations and those who might otherwise not have the opportunity to participate in human relations based programmes to do so. Each year ODEF supports two programmes offered on a free basis. The facilitators, often directors or associate consultants, offer their time on a voluntary basis
What are the payment options?
Fees can be paid in a number of ways. Oasis accepts all major credit and debit cards, as well as cheques and cash. Please note there is a 5% surcharge when paying by credit card. Most medium to longer term programmes have a number of payment schedules from single payments through to instalments (a discount is usually offered for single payment of fees at the start of the longer term programmes).
What about lunch and refreshments?
The shops along Main Street, Boston Spa are about a four minute walk from Oasis. There are a couple of sandwich/ salad shops and a continental deli. There are also a selection of places for lunch and evening meals.
For those wishing to bring their own food, Oasis provides fridge and microwave facilities for participants.
A variety of teas, fair trade coffee, fruit and biscuits are available to help yourself to at the Oasis Centre.
Lunch is provided on a small number of programmes, see specific programme information.
Do you run Oasis programmes in organisations?
Some organisations approach Oasis to design specific bespoke programmes to meet their requirements. Some of the shorter programmes have been bought into organisations e.g. Innovation at Work; Conflict Resolution; Working with Others. For more details go to Organisational Development.
What are your terms and conditions for participants on programmes?
Our terms and conditions include cancellations and financial terms. To read a copy of our terms click here. Finally, although it is not a frequently asked question, should you need to access our complaints procedure please click here.
