# The Ombuds Officer can help students and staff

**Source**: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/concerns-complaints-point/ombuds-officer-can-help-students-and-staff
**Parent**: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

**The ombuds officer is an unbiased and independent discussion partner for UM students and employees, offering advice on work and study-related matters. The ombudsperson is easily accessible and can be asked questions related to a specific study or work-related situation.**

## What does the Ombuds Officer do?

**Contribute to social safety**\
The ombudsperson contributes to a socially safe working and studying environment and can bring topics to the attention of the Executive Board and/or make recommendations to the board on patterns, larger trends and developments around social safety or other issues. In doing so, the ombudsperson contributes to increasing the organisation's learning capacity and ensuring a safe working environment.\

**Advising and facilitating solutions (no mediation)**\
The ombudsperson is easily accessible and can be asked questions related to a specific work-related situation; for example, if you and a colleague can no longer work together or a conflict has arisen between you and your manager/supervisor. If desired, she can intercede to help reach a solution, but she does not perform mediation.

She can also inform you about and give advice based on the Dutch Universities’ collective labour agreement and UM regulations and procedures.\

**Conducting investigations**\
Furthermore, the ombudsperson can conduct investigations independently and on their own initiative in response to a report. 

You can ask the ombudsperson to investigate the conduct of Maastricht University in a particular matter. You can do so in writing by clearly describing the request and sending it per letter or e-mail to [Claire Essers](mailto:claire.essers@maastrichtuniversity.nl). 

She will inform you whether or not she has the authority to conduct an investigation or will explain why no investigation will be conducted.

[claire.essers@maastrichtuniversity.nl](mailto:claire.essers@maastrichtuniversity.nl) \
 +31(0)640776309\
 Kapoenstraat 2, Room 2.028\

\
 Read more about [the ombuds officer for employees](https://umployee.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/practical-information/what-does-an-ombudsperson-do).\
 Read more about [the ombuds officer for students](https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/social-safety-team-students#ombudsofficer).

## How does the Ombuds Officer work?

The ombuds officer:

- maintains independence and neutrality; is not an advocate;
- facilitates discussions, but is not a mediator;
- adheres to regulations that guarantee confidentiality and privacy;
- does not handle issues designated for other university roles or units (e.g., student dean or Board of Examiners);
- provides solicited and unsolicited advice.

For more about the ombuds officer's regulations and statute, see:

  [regulations for the position of ombuds officer](https://umployee.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en?cm=529%2C551&mf_id=5319)\
  [statute on the position of ombuds officer](https://umployee.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en?cm=529%2C551&mf_id=5319)