Child Inclusive Mediation training with Resolution

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What is Child Inclusive Practice?

The FMC defines child inclusive mediation practice as:

‘[Providing] opportunities for children and young people to have their voices heard directly during the process of mediation, to help them feel respected and listened to and, at their request, to assist parents or carers to receive, understand and take account of the child’s messages and/or suggestions regarding decisions and arrangements for the child.’

Child Inclusive practice includes having regard to the child’s right’s perspective in your practice and being able to sensitively balance rights and responsibilities between parents and children in a way that best assists parents in decision-making that will affect their children.

If you are a mediator who is planning to train in Child Inclusive Mediation, you must have completed and Awareness and Understanding Day before applying for and attending training.

Pre-Course Requirements

In order to apply for CIM foundation training, you must:

• Be registered with the FMC as an accredited mediator
• Have the written endorsement for your application from your PPC (please download this letter for your PPC)
• Have attended a one-day Child Inclusive Mediation Awareness & Understanding Day

The course is continually assessed, and you must have completed the course successfully before entering practice. Please note, in line with FMC requirements, you must hold an enhanced DBS check before beginning CIM practice. You must also have a PPC who is suitably qualified as a CIM PPC (and who can be additional to your existing PPC if necessary).

Structure of the Training

The training course is 44 hours of assessed learning and development in total. This is divided into:

• the attended module, totalling 3 days (21 hours)
• distance learning and study totalling 23 hours, which will include projects and assignments both before, during and after an attended module.

Here is some further information about the course content.

Assessments

The course is not built on a ‘pass/fail’ model but assessment is an essential and continuous part of your training. Its aim is to ensure you reach the required standard to start your supervised practice.

The trainers will work with you throughout the course to support you as you complete your learning and development, assess how you’re progressing and provide you with feedback. In addition, we will expect you to link with your Professional Practice Consultant both during and after your course to ensure your continuing professional support.

Further details about the assessment criteria on the course can be found on the assessment criteria for courses page.

Observation

A large proportion of the attended part of the course is made up of experiential learning, with the role plays observed by the trainers. We believe that role play should be a positive learning experience and it should aid you, not just in starting to establish an understanding of your practice as a child inclusive mediator, but to experience what might be happening for any child or young person and for each of their parents too.

You’ll also have the opportunity to act as an observer of a role play so you can gain an overall view of the child or children, client parents and the mediator as they work through the stages of child inclusive work.

The trainers will ensure you have several opportunities to act in the role of mediator. Every role play is observed by a trainer and feedback is provided individually so you can gain a sense of your progress. You’ll also take part in other small group exercises designed to help you get an overall sense of your role as a child inclusive practitioner and the situations and circumstances that the individuals, family members and children may be experiencing.

Assignments

As well as pre-course reading and study there is:

• A pre-course assignment and projects to complete
• A post-course assignment which will include setting out your approach to case studies relating to child inclusive scenarios (including drafting required documentation)
• A reflective account of your learning and development.

Assignments are appraised by the trainers and added to the overall assessment of your performance. If the trainers have any concerns about your progress, they’ll discuss this with you as you complete your course. You are encouraged to raise any concerns you have with the trainers as assessment should be of value to both trainer and trainee.

The course is subject to the assessment and moderation requirements set out by the FMC and the Family Mediation Standards Board (FMSB).

Self-assessment

You’ll be provided with a template self-assessment diary and log at the beginning of your course. This is designed to help you keep a record of your thoughts and reflections about your progress as you go through your training. It’s often an effective aide to your individual discussions with the trainers and will be useful to discuss with your PPC during and following completion of your training. It will also aid your reflections as part of your post-course assignment.

The level required to meet the necessary standard at the end of your course

The course is reflective of Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 5.

The FMC publishes the competencies required of all mediators who will be working with children and young people directly. During your course, the training team will be assessing whether you have been able to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and the ability to apply those competencies at an initial or introductory level. You may demonstrate this by:

• Your written work i.e. in the written assignments you are set before and after the course
• In your contributions to small and large group discussions and exercises
• In your role plays, especially where you are playing the part of the mediator
• In your discussions with the trainers

You are asked to keep a self-assessment diary/log throughout the course. This will also help you to identify the competencies you have understood and feel confident about and how they might, or will, be applied in your practice. It will also assist you and the trainers to identify where you may have gaps or where there are areas that you feel you require more information or assistance to understand or apply a particular competency.

Further information about assessment criteria can be found here.

At the end of the course

Our aim is for you to successfully complete your training, however if there are concerns about the standard you’ve reached by the end of your course, the trainers will discuss with you what those concerns are. If you have not met the required standard, we will recommend and provide a plan for undertaking further training. This might include, but is not limited to:

• Repeating some or all of your learning and development; and
• Completing additional work with a PPC or a nominated trainer to an agreed programme of learning.

If you do need to complete further work, the trainers will discuss and agree with you any planned learning and development to assist you to reach the required standard and the timeframe for that to happen.

FMC Standards and competencies in relation to Child Inclusive Mediation

The FMC has published the standards required for Child Inclusive Mediation as Part 6 of the FMC Standards. This also includes further information about the FMSB’s requirements for assessment. You are advised to read these carefully.

Location

All 3 days of the in-person training will be held at Resolution HQ in London Bridge.

Supporting you into practice

Once you’ve successfully completed your training, you’ll work with your PPC who will guide and support you throughout your practice in child inclusive work. You’ll need to ensure that you’re working with a PPC who is also qualified in child inclusive work. If necessary, it is possible for you to appoint a suitably qualified PPC as your secondary PPC (see the FMC PPC Code for details).

After completing your training, we will expect you to have a post-training review with your chosen PPC to discuss how to take your first steps into practice.

Please note, in line with FMC requirements, you must hold an enhanced DBS check before beginning CIM practice. You must also ensure that you have suitable safeguarding policies and procedures before you start your practice and that you can meet the requirements and standards set out by the FMC generally and in relation to appropriate and safe meeting spaces for children and young people.

There are also annual PPC and continuing learning and development (CPD) requirements which you will need to meet via the arrangements set out by the FMC.

How much does it cost?

Our CIM foundation training is £1,200 (including VAT) for Resolution members and £1,440 (including VAT) for non-members.

It’s important to understand that there are costs associated with beginning and continuing practice as a CIM mediator.

You’ll need to remain a member in good standing with one of the FMC member organisations and continue to be registered as an FMCA mediator with the FMC. There is an annual fee for each of these.

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of the time you spend with your PPC, including the post-training review upon completion of your foundation course. PPCs try to work in the most cost-effective way they can. PPC hourly rates vary and there is no national set rate. Most PPCs will charge within a range of £75 – £200 per hour so it’s worth checking out hourly rates with the PPCs you contact. Your PPC will also need to be an FMC CIM-registered mediator too.

There are tri-annual continuing learning and development (CPD) requirements, of which 5 hours should normally be met by attending a course advertised as being suitable for CIM professional development. There is likely to be an additional cost for this.

CIM mediators are required by the FMC to have at least 3 CIM cases over three years. If this is not possible, the FMC Standards state that mediators should attend CIM refresher training to ensure their practice is up to date. This may also carry an additional cost.

We look forward to seeing you

Being able to assist families by offering child inclusive work is a particularly rewarding and satisfying part of mediation practice. Mediation remains a central focus for the future of resolving family issues post-separation and we are committed to offering our members the opportunity to extend their knowledge, skills and practice to provide the very best service to families. We hope you’ll choose to train with us, and we look forward to meeting you on the course.

For more information about child inclusive mediation practice, please contact louisa.grisdale@resolution.org.uk

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