A qualified or professional family mediator is not the same as an Accredited Family Mediator

Some family mediators refer to themselves as qualified and/or professional family mediators, registered with the Family Mediation Council, and members of one of the six family mediation Council membership organisations.

This is not the same as being an Accredited Family Mediator (FMCA) registered with the Family Mediation Council. Why not?

The process of becoming an accredited family mediator is set out in section 2 of the FMC Standards and Regulatory framework

To be a qualified mediator the mediator only needs to have attended an eight-day family mediation foundation course. They then have 3 years to become fully accredited.

To be become an accredited family mediator, the mediator must prepare a detailed portfolio of their work and undergo a stringent assessment process, demonstrating a level of competency to practice as an accredited family mediator.

They will also have to work closely with a family mediation supervisor, during their accreditation period, ensuring that they are on track to demonstrate their competence as a family mediator when it comes to their assessment.

The support from a supervisor includes observing the training mediators mediations and preparing an evaluation report of their work. It also involves observing the their supervisor’s mediation.

The accredited mediator must then be re-accredited every three years by the Family Mediation Council.

Therefore, by using an accredited family mediator, FMCA, as opposed to a qualified/professional family mediator, the mediator is guaranteeing a certain level of expertise required to practice in this demanding area of work.

This is not to say that the qualified mediator is not a good one. It simply means that, for some reason, they have not yet become accredited or, chosen not to.

If the family mediator advertising their service is not yet accredited it is suggested by the Family Mediation Council that they represent themselves to the public as ‘a mediator having completed initial training and registered with the family mediation Council is working towards fully qualified status as a family mediator and supported by a professional practice consultant’. 

Unfortunately, in many cases this is not happening.

They should have the letters FMC rather than FMCA after their name if they are not yet accredited.  

The designation FMC Accredited Family Mediator (FMCA) is awarded to family mediators who have (a) passed the assessments on an FMC-approved initial training course, (b) completed the post training requirements, and (c) passed the final assessment of professional competence.

All this is designed to provide members of the public, looking for a family mediator, with reassurance that the mediator is suitably qualified.

At Compass Resolution we employ accredited family mediators as well as train and supervise our own family mediators to the high standard required by the Family Mediation Council.

Compass Resolution has the only FMC accredited family mediator in Chesham, Buckinghamshire and is able to offer legal aid to those who are eligible.

Get in touch for a chat if you think you may need a family mediator.