FMA’s 9th day of foundation training focuses on online working. It also offers an opportunity to discuss with the group where you might have got to with developing your practice, to share ideas with other course members and to get ideas to further progress towards FMCA. In addition, if the group choose we can hold a session on portfolio development, hints and tips.

• To provide an opportunity to experience both information and assessment role plays and family mediation role plays online
• To focus on meeting FMC information and assessment standards in an online setting
• Toidentify the benefits and problems associated with family mediation online (with particular reference to the principles of family mediation)
• Toidentify particular skills and ways of working which will improve the online experience of family mediation for all participants – focusing on safety, balanced participation, progressing the conversation; managing financial disclosure; facilitating option development; dealing with conflict, power imbalance and impasse; managing emotion and conflict; and recording details and outcomes of each session.
• To examine in more depth some of the issues relating to domestic abuse and child protection already touched on in the foundation training. in particular we will look at the new FMC domestic abuse screening tool, currently under consultation.
• To relate directly to the competency framework trainees will use in the portfolio, by asking them to consider how to achieve specific competencies online (for example C2.2 screening effectively and C6.1 setting up and creating a safe and neutral environment).

The course is delivered by two members of the Foundation Training team, both very experienced in mediating online – Beverley Sayers and Philippa Johnson.