Supporting kinship families through mediation

by Claire Webb

Findings from a feasibility study

Between September 2023 and March 2025, Family Solutions delivered a pioneering kinship care mediation intervention to families across five local authority areas in the South of England. The service was offered free of charge to 20 kinship families and aimed to help kinship carers and birth parents navigate the complex and often strained relationships that can negatively affect children’s long-term outcomes.

The intervention combined an individual Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) for each participant, followed by up to four joint mediation sessions. Sessions were delivered by trained and accredited Family Solutions mediators and supported by additional activities designed to improve communication, manage conflict and strengthen parenting approaches.

Recognising the importance of applying mediation specifically to kinship care, the independent charity Foundations commissioned Coram to conduct a feasibility study (March 2023–April 2025) to explore how well the intervention could be delivered, whether it showed signs of promise, and how it might be evaluated and scaled in the future.

Why mediation for kinship families?

Kinship care arrangements often involve complex family dynamics and, at times, highly acrimonious relationships between kinship carers and birth parents. Research shows that conflict between these adults can have long-lasting negative consequences for children (eg Selwyn et al, 2013; DWP, 2021). Mediation, as a confidential process led by a neutral third party, offers a constructive way to help families move from conflict to co-operation.

The feasibility study

The study sought to answer four key questions:

  1. How well specified and feasible is the kinship care mediation intervention?
  2. Who does the intervention reach, and how could it be scaled up?
  3. Are there early signs of positive impact (evidence of promise)?
  4. How should the intervention be evaluated in the future?

Methods

Researchers used a mixed-methods approach, including:

  • Interviews with 22 participants (kinship carers, birth parents, mediators, professionals and the project manager).
  • Observations of two MIAMs.
  • Analysis of administrative data on 94 adults from 51 referrals.
  • Reviews of mediator case summaries and training feedback surveys.
  • Observation of three professional training sessions.

Key findings

Feasibility and acceptability
  • The service received 51 referrals and delivered mediation to 17 kinship families (85% of the target).
  • Mediators conducted 76 MIAMs and 41 joint mediation sessions, with 73% of referrals made by social workers.
  • Three families also received child consultation sessions with children aged 12–15.
  • Professional training reached 130 staff across three local authority areas and was well received.
  • Mediators judged 88% of referrals to be suitable for mediation.

Participants, professionals, and mediators consistently described the service as distinct, credible and beneficial, with clear signs of achieving intended outcomes.

Signs of promise

Interviews with carers, parents and professionals revealed improvements in communication, reduced conflict, and clearer contact arrangements:

  • Kinship carers reported written mediation plans improved predictability and reduced misunderstandings.
  • Parents described mediation as a “turning point”, helping them rebuild dialogue and co-parent more effectively.
  • Professionals observed greater co-operation and emotional relief for families.

Barriers to delivery

  • Birth parents often lacked professional support to engage with mediation, leaving some anxious or hesitant.
  • Past conflicts between carers and parents deterred some from participating.
  • The Family Mediation Scale, trialled as an outcome measure, was unsuitable, disrupting the mediation process.
  • Local authority systems lacked relevant outcome data, limiting evaluation options.

Facilitators of engagement

  • The warm, flexible, and supportive approach of mediators encouraged participation.
  • Offering both online and in-person sessions gave families choice and reduced tension.
  • Providing the service free of charge removed financial barriers.

Recommendations

The study made ten key recommendations to strengthen future delivery:

  1. Raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about mediation.
  2. Offer more tailored support to birth parents.
  3. Refer families earlier in their kinship care journey (eg pre-SGO).
  4. Embed professional training with refresher sessions.
  5. Continue the psychotherapist role with clear boundaries.
  6. Allocate resources for family engagement and follow-up.
  7. Provide specialist training and supervision for mediators.
  8. Treat MIAMs as valuable standalone interventions.
  9. Offer follow-up sessions to reinforce progress.
  10. Tighten eligibility criteria to focus on families most likely to benefit.

Conclusion

The feasibility study shows that kinship care mediation holds real promise as a way to reduce conflict, improve communication and support better outcomes for children. Families valued the opportunity to resolve disputes in a constructive and child-centred environment, and professionals reported clear benefits.

However, challenges remain—particularly around engaging birth parents and identifying appropriate outcome measures. With careful refinement, stronger evaluation methods and a participatory approach that includes children’s voices, the model could be scaled to reach many more kinship families across the country.

We at Family Solutions are really hopeful to be able to continue the work and secure further funding for further work in this area.

The report has come at a timely moment, given the Law Commissions work in this area (see last issue for details). The Report has been shared by Resolution with the Law Commission. All involved feel really optimistic about how this report will help underline the value and potential of mediation in social care. It feels like mediation for social care has entered a new era – which will be of real value to both families and professionals.

We leave you with a sample of some of the words from participants:

“We [the local authority] don’t really have anything similar in place… we just suggest the [kinship] carers go to Citizens Advice or get a solicitor… then we’ll access like voluntary groups, charities, that sort of thing.” Referring professional

“I was really nervous and I started shaking and because I knew I was making a step forward and I was doing it for [child] and I knew I had to be strong and, like, do it. […] I have to do this like, otherwise nothing’s going to change.” Parent

“[Court ordered mediation] built that bridge between us because, [….] The court is making it slowly come in, forcing it in, but this [mediation] is us actually like walking across the bridge, and like holding our hand out and saying, ‘look, come on, let’s do this together’ in a sense.” Parent

“It’s a safer way of sort of getting those thoughts and feelings out there really and I think they [kinship family members] feel really held.” Referring professional

“She’s just so calm… she listens and can work out what I’m saying… and explain it to the other person.” Kinship carer

“I don’t feel judged at all through Family Solutions.” Parent

“I said what I needed to say… I could speak openly and honestly.” Kinship carer

 

The full report can be found at: https://foundations.org.uk/our-work/publications/kinship-care-mediation-a-feasability-study/

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