Who is the Mediator?

It is important that you use a family mediator who you can be confident in, who has been properly trained, is effectively supervised and regulated and is a member of an approved mediation body that is a member of the Family Mediation Council.

FMA family mediators have completed All Issues family mediation foundation training before becoming accepted as a member of the Association. This means they are able to mediate in all the issues surrounding divorce and separation, including children, capital & finance and communication.

All family mediators have an appointed supervisor (also referred to as a professional practice consultant) who samples their work and supports ‘best practice’ development. Mediators meet regularly with their supervisor which helps ensure that the FMA’s high standards are upheld and the interests of all clients are appropriately served. FMA mediators are also appropriately insured.

Every family mediator is also required to undergo a minimum of 10 hours training per year specific to family mediation (also known as CPD – Continuous Professional Development) and have a yearly appraisal by their supervisor.

The majority of FMA family mediators are ‘Recognised’ by the Legal Services Commission to provide ‘Publicly Funded’ mediation. They may provide such mediation if they work with or for a mediation service that has a contract with the Legal Services Commission. At the time of writing there are plans to develop a ‘Licensed/Approved to Practice’ route for family mediators, post foundation training, who do not wish to conduct State Funded mediation. This will ensure high standards of mediation delivery are upheld much more consistently across all the mediation practices.

Many FMA mediators are ‘Accredited’ members of the Association. Where this is stated it means that they have been assessed as having reached the ‘gold standard’ as a practising member, with their work being deemed to be of a consistently high standard. The majority of ‘Accredited’ members are also ‘Recognised’ by the Legal Services Commission.

If in doubt about the status of a family mediator do ask for evidence of training, ‘Recognition’, ‘Accreditation’, supervision as required. Verification can also be made by contacting the FMA directly.