The Mediation Support Team (‘Mediation Teaming’)
“Helping you to get the best outcomes for yourself and your family through ‘mediation teaming’- Working with the right professional team and resources to support your needs”-
Author: The Divorce Manual and Director, Compass Resolution Ltd
The Purpose of ‘Mediation Teaming’
To provide every separating couple, their children and family with an inter-disciplinary family mediation professional team and resource support solution, appropriate to their needs and budget, to enable and empower them to reach their own sustainable private children and financial agreements, in the most efficient and cost effective way, whilst giving them and their children the experience of being fully supported throughout their separation journey and beyond, into post separation and divorce recovery.
What is ‘Mediation Teaming’
There are 4 key components to effective ‘mediation teaming’:
1. The Team
Family professionals (from different fields) working (for both together or as individuals) in a cohesive joined up way, based on good practice and Standards (applicable to their professions)- Mediator/Coach/IFA/Solicitor- Ideally trained and experienced in collaborative ways of working- See Resolution Specialist Panel
2. The services and skills
Harnessing (Learning from) and applying the collective knowledge, insights, experience and skills of all members of the family inter-disciplinary team of fully accredited family professionals (Solicitors, IFAs, Accountants, Actuaries, Parenting and Child experts)
3. The practice and process
Working in support of key objectives and the aims and principles of a neutral facilitative solution and outcome focused process (mediation), to provide separating couples with the right professional support and resources at a time it is needed most (see below), if and when required, in and outside the mediation process, (trained to work in and around mediation process) in the most efficient and cost-effective way
4. A central resource
Supported by a central resource website (The Divorce Manual) in support of the professional and the separating couple working as teams and couples attempting to reach their own children and financial agreements/outcomes and in support the needs of the separated family
The professional team
All members of the Mediation Team will be accredited in their own fields, familiar with mediation and experienced in working in specific roles, providing their services as part of a cohesive team.
They will share the aim of assisting and advising their clients in a way that informs and empowers them to be able to make decisions and reach outcomes together and for themselves in mediation, which meets the needs of their children and as many needs and interests common to their client and their partner/spouse, as possible (whether working in a neutral capacity or representing one of the mediation clients)
Mediators
Mediators work with separated couples in a neutral, pragmatic and constructive way with the purpose of helping and supporting them to reach their own solutions and outcomes together in mediation according to the principles of mediation.
- Mediators are specialist in helping their clients with difficult conversations, collective reasoning and joint decision making
- They provide their clients with information they need when they need it and help them to understand and apply it- See the Divorce Manual
- They refer to and work with and alongside other family professionals in support of the aims of mediation and the aims of the separating couple
- They signpost to other organisations, resources and support programmes
Divorce Coaches
Divorce Coaches support their clients to build their commitment, capacity (clarity, confidence and courage), conflict resolution competency and confidence so that, among other things, their clients are able to go into mediation empowered, enabled and motivated to work with the mediator and their former partner to reach important decisions together and reach outcomes relating matters of most importance to them.
Solicitor in support of the mediation process
The family solicitor in support of mediation assists and advises their client in a way that informs and empowers them to negotiate for themselves in mediation and reach outcomes which meet the needs of the children and as many needs and interests common to their client and their partner/spouse, as possible
It is recommended that only Family Solicitors who are also trained mediators and/or collaboratively trained practitioners and One solicitor/2 clients be used because of the nature of the mediation team model of dispute resolution and the need for training, skills, experience and understanding of this area of work. It is also worth considering whether to instruct them in a ‘neutral capacity’
IFAs and Financial Neutrals
Financial Neutrals provide neutral, impartial and balanced information and support to the clients and assist them in a way that informs and empowers them to negotiate for themselves in mediation and reach financial outcomes which meets the needs of the children and as many needs and interests common to both parties as possible.
They can also help the couple to work (together or individually) with other financial experts supporting them to choose and instruct the expert and assist the couple to explore their financial options in mediation.
Independent Financial Advisers can also work with one of the clients to support their understanding, enabling and empowering them to work more effectively within the mediation team model.
Neutral property experts
The property expert provides neutral, impartial and balanced financial information and neutral valuation report(s) where necessary to the clients and assists them in a way that informs and empowers them to negotiate for themselves in mediation.
There are also other property experts specialising in helping the couple find and buy suitable properties.
Accountants
The neutral accountant provide a neutral, impartial and balanced financial information providing neutral valuation reports where necessary to the clients and assist them in a way that informs and empowers them to negotiate for themselves in mediation in respect of a range of matters relating to business interests, tax and other matters requiring accountancy input.
Accountants can also work with one of the clients to support their understanding, enabling and empowering them to work more effectively within the mediation team model (‘Shadow accountants’).
Actuaries/Pension expert
A Pensions expert (PODE) (Actuary/IFA) provide detailed reports about pension options pensions enabling the separating couple to make informed decisions in mediation about their pensions. These days, pensions and how to make the most of them is a complex matter and pensions can vary a great deal
Other financial experts
These may include experts to assist with completing comprehensive monthly expenditure/budgets, earning and borrowing capacities.
They might also include experts on child maintenance, Wills and Probate.
It is about working with the right expert for the job !
Parenting experts
Parenting experts specialise in helping couples with building and maintaining their co-parenting communication and relationship in a way that works best for themselves and their children.
These experts come from a range of disciplines such as coaches, psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors and others.
Child experts
Child experts specialise in supporting children from separated families in respect of a wide range of needs. Some meet with children to ensure that their voices are heard and understood in the mediation process. Others work with children and their parents directly.
Some also provide Parenting programmes to support co-parenting, running alongside mediation.
Summary
The mediator will work closely with you and your former partner in mediation to ensure that you receive the most appropriate support (Professional and Resources) at the right time, when you need it most, in the most efficient and cost-effective way, to enable you to reach successful outcomes together.
That is ‘Mediation Teaming’.
Good luck
John E Hind LLB.FMCA.CMC reg
Mediator, Divorce Coach, PPC, Trainer
Founder and Director- Compass Resolution Mediation Ltd