Mediation Foundation Training – qualifying as a mediator with Resolution

Join the largest network of family mediators in England and Wales and start your mediation training with Resolution.

Background information

Our Mediation Foundation training is the first step to becoming a family mediator. Below you will find information about the Mediation Foundation training including:

  • Why choose Resolution?
  • Becoming a family mediator with Resolution
  • Structure of the foundation training
  • Location
  • Assessment
  • Supporting you into family mediation practice
  • How much does it cost?
  • We hope you’ll join us

Why choose Resolution?

We believe that all mediator members should be properly trained and supported in their practice and we further believe that as a result, Resolution trained mediators offer the highest quality standard of family mediation practice.

Additionally, by choosing Resolution you will benefit from:

  • Training that is written and delivered by family law mediators, for family law mediators, ensuring you get a range of experience and knowledge from practising mediators
  • Nationally recognised standards
  • Resources for your practice as a mediator.
  • Resolution provides resources and materials for all mediator members including the Mediation Handbook, template documents, a network of PPCs from across the country and dedicated branding and marketing materials
  • Great opportunities for further professional development, support and mentoring
  • A range of courses and opportunities for your learning and development and the support of Resolution’s staff as and when you need it
  • High ratio of trainers to trainees

We believe it’s important for you to be supported throughout your training. We always ensure a high ratio of trainers to trainees so you can be reassured that trainers are available to you throughout the course.

Increasing your range of knowledge and skills

Resolution has always promoted the use of dispute resolution skills in everyday practice. A number of members complete their foundation mediation training with us as a means of increasing their knowledge and skills base without wanting or expecting to work as a family mediator. You are free to choose how you want to use the knowledge and skills you gain from attending the course. Whether you decide that you wish to go on to begin your practice as a family mediator or simply to use the knowledge and skills in your everyday practice, we set out below the course requirements for all attendees and what you will be required to do in order to become an accredited family mediator.

Becoming a family mediator with Resolution

Family mediation practice is a professional activity that is governed by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). The FMC is made up of representatives of the member organisations for family mediation and Resolution is a founding member.

The FMC’s Family Mediation Standards Board oversees the implementation and operation of the national standards. Your training, learning and development will be subject to the national standard.

Structure of the foundation training

The training consists of a three-day module, a two-day module and a final three-day module of physically and remotely attended training. This usually takes place over approximately three months. However, this may vary. There is an additional two-hour online introductory workshop ahead of the first module to introduce the training group to each other. For full details of the course objectives, learning outcomes and course content, please see the course objectives and learning outcomes and course content.

Location

The Pre-course workshop, Module 1 and Module 3 will be delivered online via Zoom. Module 2 will be face-to-face and held at Resolution’s offices in London.

Assessment

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

The trainers will work with you throughout the course to support you as you complete the eight days of training, assess how you’re doing and provide you with feedback.

You will be assessed through a mixture of observation and assignments.

Further details about the assessment criteria on the course can be found in the assessment criteria for courses information at the end of this document.

Observation:

A great deal of the course is made up of experiential learning with a number of 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 your role as a mediator, but to experience what might be happening for each of the clients too.

The trainers will ensure you get several opportunities to act in the role of mediator. Every role play is observed by members of the training team and feedback is provided individually so you can get 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 mediator 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 are two assignments to complete during your training.

The first is set after your first three days of training and is an ‘open book’ essay assignment. The second is set after the fifth day of the course and requires you to complete a set of client outcome documents, including the Memorandum of Understanding, Open Financial Statement and/or Parenting Plan.

Both assignments are appraised by the training team 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’re going through your eight days. You are encouraged to raise any concerns you have with the trainers as assessment should work for and be of value to both trainer and trainee.

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 chosen PPC following completion of your training.

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

The FMC publishes the family mediation competencies required of all mediators. 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 throughout 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 and we hope this will also help you to identify the competencies that you feel you have understood and feel confident about how they might or would be applied in your practice. It will also assist you and the trainers to identify where you may have gaps or areas where you feel you require more information or assistance to understand or apply a particular competency.

Further information about assessment criteria.

At the end of the course:

Our aim is for you to successfully complete your course. However if there are concerns about the standard you’ve reached by the end of your course, the trainers will discuss and agree 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:

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 time frame for that to happen.

Supporting you into family mediation practice

Once you’ve successfully completed your foundation training, you’ll work with a PPC who will guide and support you into and throughout your practice as a family mediator. Information about PPCs can be found in the Mediation Handbook.

After completing your training you’ll have a post-training review with your chosen PPC to discuss how to take your first steps into practice. The FMC Standard requires you to either observe a mediation session conducted by an accredited mediator or act as a co-mediator with an accredited mediator before you can start practice. Full details of this and other post-training requirements are set out in the Standards Manual.

Resolution has also produced a flowchart and guidance note to explain the process. Beyond that, you’ll be able to start to conduct your first mediations with the support and guidance of your PPC.

Becoming an accredited mediator:

To become an accredited mediator, you will need to follow the requirements set by the FMC. These requirements are set out in the FMC Manual of Professional Standards and include details about ongoing PPC support, which once you are accredited should be no less than four hours per year. (Please see the flowchart and guidance note for the additional requirements in relation to time spent with a PPC prior to accreditation). There’s a fee for applying for accreditation (which you can do either via the FMC or through The Law Society). The cost is between £300 and £400, depending on the route you choose.

How much does it cost?

The foundation training is £3,120 (inc. VAT).

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

You’ll need to remain a member in good standing with one of the FMC member organisations for which there is an annual membership fee. Resolution’s mediator membership fee is currently £326 for the year (which includes your DR fee). There is also an annual fee for registration with the FMC (further information about registration with the FMC is set out in our flowchart and on the FMC website).

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 and between completing your foundation training and accreditation (probably somewhere between two and three years), you’ll need to complete a maximum of 22 hours with your PPC. Some of this can take place over the phone as well as in a group where the costs may be shared.

There are also annual continuing learning and development (CPD) requirements which you might choose to meet by attending a course for which there might be an additional cost.

Further information

We hope you’ll join us

Being a family mediator is rewarding and satisfying. Mediation remains a central focus for the future of resolving family issues post-separation. Members who train with us find that the skills they’ve learned are transferable into their everyday practice.

We hope that you’ll choose to train with us and we look forward to meeting you on the course.

For more information on becoming a Resolution mediator, please contact Kimberley Carvalho at kimberley.carvalho@resolution.org.uk