Opportunities with Global Mediation

Experience in education, SEND and/or conflict resolution is desirable but not essential, but an interest in the human condition, effective communication, reconciliation, and an ability to listen and empathise are all helpful!

To practice in the SEND context mediators will have previously attended a foundation course in mediation. Mediators should be able to demonstrate that the foundation programme was to a certain standard. This could be in a variety of ways: the training provider may be approved by a mediation standard setting body such as the Civil Mediation Council or the College of Mediators; or the programme may have been verified by a national organisation which awards vocational training qualifications such as the Open College Network or the Institute of Leadership and Management.
In any case mediators should be able to evidence that the course met the following criteria:
– 40 hours in length
– Covers the process and principles of mediation
– Develops skills through role play
– Contains a level of assessment through role play and written assignment.

Following this initial training, mediators should gain experience of mediation in any area – for example, community mediation or workplace mediation – this is an important period which allows the newly qualified mediator time to consolidate their skills, to experience the different and complex challenges, dynamics, and agendas presented in mediation, to cement the principles of mediation firmly in their practice, to understand how and when to utilise the different mediation techniques and strategies – particularly when dealing with the unexpected or when managing high emotion, to engage in reflective practice and peer support, and understand the value of this.

Experienced mediators looking to specialise in the field of Special Educational Needs Mediation may then attend a SEND specific training programme which provides the relevant contextual knowledge and elements of practice in this field. The training should consist of a minimum of 12 hours’ delivery and should be delivered by a recognised provider of the College of Mediators or the Civil Mediation Council.

After having attended a specialised training programme, mediators will be required to engage in a period of supported practice in order to reach accreditation. This should consist of:
– at least 12 hours of casework
– a further 2 hours of reflection on their practice
There is an expectation that newly trained mediators will have opportunities to observe a SEND mediation case, before progressing to co-working and finally taking the lead in a case. During this time the mediator will demonstrate, over a minimum of three cases that they have met the required standards and can apply the knowledge and learning from the taught programme. There should be opportunities for de-briefing after each case. This period of practice will culminate in a final case, observed by an experienced mediator who has the authority to verify that they have reached a sufficient standard of practice to be accredited or to outline any areas to be addressed prior to accreditation.

In order to be registered as an accredited SEND mediator the practitioner will be a member of either the Civil Mediation Council or the College of Mediators. These bodies maintain a joint register of accredited SEND mediators that is accessible to the public. A mediator may already be a member of one of these bodies for other mediation work they may perform, or they may join as a SEND mediator. Membership will be via one of two routes:
Individual membership: individuals apply and must be able to show that they meet the necessary standards and requirements in terms of training, practice, CPD, mentoring and reflection on practice. Individual applications are verified by a PPC.
Membership of a Panel: a Mediation Provider Organisation that undertakes to ensure that all their panel members meet the necessary standards and requirements in terms of training, practice, CPD, mentoring / supervision.

At Global Mediation we request that an application to join our panel of associate mediators is submitted. This can be downloaded at the top of this page. If your application is successful, you will be invited to interview, and if this is successful a period of observed mediations will be required. Our associate panel mediators are all self-employed.

In order to maintain membership of a professional body mediators will be required to reregister on an annual basis. Mediators should therefore:
– maintain a CPD log, providing evidence of a minimum of 20 hours completed CPD activity
– verify that they have completed at least three mediation cases.
– verify that they have accessed mentoring support / supervision CPD should be completed through a variety of methods such as role play, reading, training, leading team discussion, attending conferences.

Learn more about our Mediation Foundation Course and our SEND Mediation Training Courses