FMA Training available to members/non-members

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
 
As the FMA terminated the administration contract with ADR on 30 June 2011,the FMA is now responsible for providing its own training and is not connected in any way with ADR courses.   Details of the courses may be found on this website or through our administrators Northern Networking Events at www.northernnetworking.co.uk. Please support your membership organisation by undertaking FMA courses.
 
Jan Coulton
FMA Chair
 
Family Mediation Training for 2011 – offered by Family Mediators Association

1. Family Mediation Foundation Training programmes

Eight-day course set over three modules and with the opportunity to observe or co-mediate before completion of your training.
 
Module I Three Days Intensive Training followed by a written assignment.
 
Module II Three Days Intensive Training followed by two written assignments.
Successful completion of Module II and the two written assignments, enables trainees to begin co-mediating and to apply for membership of the Family Mediators Association before completing Module III. This enables the trainee to gain some practice, either by way of observation or co-mediation whilst training and to incorporate that experience into their learning.
 
Module III Two Days Intensive Training. The content of the final two days is tailored to meet the training needs of the trainees as determined by the trainers following the performance of the trainees during the first two Modules and the written assignments.

On average, newly qualified mediators are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours co-mediation before being able to practice solely as a family mediator.
 
* Course fees include 1 years FMA membership fee (currently £170)
 
Registration is now open for the following courses:
 
  • Leeds, 25 - 27 April, 21 - 23 May and 25 - 26 June 2012 - Register online

2. Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting Training Days (2011)

From 6 April 2011, all applicants to court on Family proceedings will be required to demonstrate that they have already considered the option of mediation, by attending a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). Respondents will also be expected to have considered mediation. The guidelines are laid down in a Pre –application protocol (PAP) issued by the MOJ.
 
This is a new and much welcomed (by FMA) change in Family Justice proceedings. Competence criteria for mediators carrying out these MIAMs have been agreed by FMC and many mediators who have not been familiar with the LSC assessment process, will now require training in order to be eligible to conduct MIAMs.
These new one day courses will provide an opportunity for everyone to think about how they might modify their practice to maximise the opportunity for clients to resolve disputes through ADR. There will be two experienced trainers on each course, which will have a maximum number of participants so as to aid dialogue and role play.
 
FMA therefore recommends in any event that all mediators consider attending the one day assessment training, especially if they are accredited but not FMC/LSC competence assessed. If in doubt, discuss with your PPC. 
 
The next MIAMs course will take place on:

3. Mediator refresher training - For non practising mediators who wish to return to practice

Under the Pre –application protocol (PAP), non-practising mediators who wish to conduct the Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) will be required to attend an approved refresher training course (as well as other competence criteria).
 
Dates for 2012 are to be advised in due course.
 
4. Direct Consultation with Children
 
This two day intensive course, delivered by use of presentations, case discussions, role-plays and group exercises, meets the requirements of the Family Mediation Council for those wishing to directly consult with children in mediation. 
 
Open to experienced family mediators and collaborative practitioners with experience in dealing with children who wish to acquire the skills and techniques required to consult directly with children as part of their family mediation practice in approporiate circumstances following FMA policy, and as a child consultant within Collaborative Practice.
 
Dates for 2012 courses will be advised in due course.

5. PPC Best Practice Training Day
 
This one day course The PPC Best Practice Days will review the Pre Application Protocol and the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting requirements, look at how it has worked in practice and explore what we have learnt from the implementation of Pre Application Protocol earlier this year. The days are designed to identify the issues and give you the support that you need to operate as a PPC. Click here for further information.
 
The next PPC Best Practice Days will take place on:
6. Annual Update on Law and Practice
 
This is FMA’s first pilot Annual Update, a model which we hope will become a valuable part of the mediation training year.  One of the principles behind the course has been the importance of demonstrating family mediation’s credibility by emphasising that mediators are fully up to date with family law and practice as it applies to the mediation room.

Our AIMS and OBJECTIVES are to meet the specific needs of practising family mediators, by providing both a basic update of legal knowledge and practical suggestions about the improvement of practice. We will try to discern together what trends there are in the development of family law and Government policy, and the extent to which these should influence our work. In a sense, the course mirrors the legal updates offered by other training providers, but with a specific focus on the needs of mediators, and a greater opportunity to discuss issues, both in plenary and in small groups.  The course is aimed at both “lawyer mediators” and “non-lawyer mediators.”  Click here for further information regarding this course.

 
The next Annual Update on Law and Practice will take place on:

7. PPC Foundation Training
 
The PPC foundation training is a two day intensive course, lecture room bases with role play, assessment, case discussion and debate.  The course is comprehensive, incorporating current requirements, it is stimulating and thought provoking.  An essential course for the development of the experienced mediators advanced training.
 
If you are an experienced practicing family mediator, accredited or working towards accreditation, youmay be eligible to enter the PPC foundation training.  Prior to attending the course you must obtain the written support of your own PPC.  If you would like to support fellow family mediators in their private and publicly funded practice.  Completion of the course leads to recognition as a PPC.
 

Dates for 2012 courses will be advised in due course.

8. Essential Legal and Financial Issues for Non-Lawyer Mediators

Aims and objectives of the course:
  1. To provide non-lawyer mediators, or lawyer mediators who have not practised law for some years or have practised another area of law, with some basic knowledge of the law governing the resolution of property and financial issues.
  2. To enable them to answer client’s requests for legal information.
  3. To enable them to identify legal issues so that they know when it is appropriate to provide information and/or to refer clients to their legal advisors for advice.
  4. To empower them to explore workable options with their clients, confident that those options are legally valid.
  5. To assist them to draft summaries that will reflect clients’ proposals in a way that will assist their legal advisers to be satisfied that they meet the necessary legal criteria.

Dates for 2012 courses will be advised in due course.

9. Other advanced mediator training

From time to time, FMA will offer other advanced mediator training. When such courses become available, they will be advertised on this web site, or to enquire about any particular type of training, please contact us.
 
For more information on training and to book any of these courses, contact Cara McIlwraith
Tel: 01355 244 594
Fax: 01355 249 959
E-mail: info@thefma.co.uk
 

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