2 Day Course – 13th-14th May 2026
Specialist Training for Accredited Family Mediators
Would you like to develop the specialist skills needed to work effectively with kinship care families?
The Family Mediation Association is pleased to offer a 2-Day Training Programme for Accredited Family Mediators, designed to build on the important recommendations emerging from the Coram feasibility study of kinship care mediation and to strengthen professional practice in this vital area.
Recent research commissioned by Foundations and conducted by Coram has highlighted the promise of structured mediation in supporting kinship care families. The study found that mediation can improve communication, reduce conflict and help kinship carers and birth parents reach more stable, child-focused arrangements – offering an alternative to adversarial routes such as court proceedings. The research also recommended investing in specialist mediator training, raising awareness of mediation and strengthening multi-agency understanding to ensure appropriate referrals and effective delivery of support.
Why specialist kinship care mediation matters
Kinship care families face unique and complex challenges. Many children in kinship care have experienced adversity, and ongoing conflict between kinship carers and birth parents can have lasting negative effects on children’s wellbeing. Standard mediation practice, while valuable, does not always fully address the specific dynamics, trauma-related needs and communication barriers present in kinship care situations. Specialist mediation practice, informed by trauma-aware approaches and tailored conflict-management strategies, is essential to support kinship care families to engage productively, focus on the child’s best interests and achieve durable agreements.
The training covers
This programme is ideal for accredited mediators seeking to broaden their expertise and strengthen their confidence when working with kinship care families.