Skills and abilities: Confidentiality and integrity, combined with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Decisive leadership.
What you’ll be doing: Usually working for organisations or government bodies, the role of Ombudsman includes specialisations such as Education Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman, and Insurance Ombudsman. Typical day-to-day responsibilities include:
- Providing independent, impartial investigations of complaints
- Providing confidential consultations, and recommending appropriate resolution strategies
- Educating constituents regarding rights
- Conducting research and identifying problems or patterns, reporting on findings
- Building effective relationships and partnerships with relevant agencies or bodies
Career progression: With backgrounds in psychology, administration, or law, careers typically begin in litigation, counselling, or investigation – because of the sensitive nature of the work, experience is important. Starting as a Deputy Ombudsman in larger organisations, you may become a Senior or Lead Ombudsman. You may choose a specialisation, such as finance or health.
