We use cookies to improve and customise your experience, for analytics and metrics, and to track any purchases you make both on this website and on others. To find out more about the cookies we use see our cookie policy
More info
- Help people manage conflicts and achieve a resolution when divorcing or separating
- You'll need to be emotionally strong and great at managing arguments, listening and negotiating
- Make a real difference to families going through difficult times
As a family mediator you will always be impartial, so you won't tell people what to do, or give counselling or legal advice. Instead, you'll provide factual and legal information if required.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Meet clients jointly or separately to explain the mediation process and decide on the issues to discuss
- Help clients find ways of communicating with each other
- Listen to each client's feelings and concerns
- Discuss issues like child residence and contact
- Property and money
- Help clients to consider all options and suggest and discuss solutions
- Keep discussions fair, equal and focused
- Keep accurate and confidential records of discussions
- Summarise agreements in writing
- Recognise when mediation is not working
- Work with solicitors and courts when necessary
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
In some jobs you may also talk to children, or deal with other family conflict situations.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with excellent communication and listening skills, conflict management skills, the ability to relate to people from all backgrounds, creative thinking, and the ability to deal with people who may be upset, vulnerable, angry or distressed.
You could do a degree or postgraduate diploma in social work, law, counselling, psychotherapy or education.
You'll need several years' experience in your chosen profession alongside a qualification to move into mediation work. As part of the selection process, you'll need to show you have the right personal qualities and skills to be a family mediator.
You'll also need paid or voluntary experience of working with families to get into this job. This could be in settings like family support centres, counselling services or child contact centres.
Volunteering at a local community mediation service, for instance helping to settle neighbour disputes, can also be useful experience.
You can do training with a professional association that works in mediation such as, Family Mediators Association, National Family Mediation or Resolution. Training entry requirements vary between them but most will expect you to have relevant experience from paid work or volunteering.
Some family law solicitors and legal executives choose to train and work as mediators although law qualifications are not essential for this job.
You'll also need to pass enhanced background checks.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience you could set up your own mediation practice, train and supervise other mediators, or become a service manager. You could also use your mediation skills in other careers like housing, social work or advice work.