PROTOCOL ON THE SELECTION PROCESS

Background

There are many reasons why you might choose to attend the FMA Mediation Foundation Course – to acquire new skills and processes, to understand mediation and its place, or to assist you in your current workplace. We know, however, that most of you will attend in the hope that you will progress to practice as a family mediator.

This document is therefore designed to give further guidance to potential trainees and their referees as to the selection process for the FMA Foundation Training Programme (Foundation Training).  It is written to provide some clarity and transparency around:

• the selection criteria i.e. what we are looking for in potential candidates for the Foundation Training;
• why a candidate might be unsuccessful in their initial application to attend the Foundation Training;
• how we support struggling trainees during the Foundation Training; and
• why a trainee might not receive their Certificate of Completion at the end of the Foundation Training.

Selection Criteria

There is already quite a bit of information on the FMA and FMC websites on the qualifications, skills and experience required to become a family mediator.  We ask that potential trainees should be:

• qualified for at least three years in either of:
  • family law, social work, social science or therapy/counselling professions,
  • where 50% or more of their workload has been within family law or working with families and/or couples;
• educated to degree level or professional equivalent;
• able to demonstrate an ability to work with conflicts and to manage interpersonal relationships at a professional level;
• able to demonstrate an ability to communicate fluently with clients during mediation sessions and to produce high-quality written documents; and
• able to work with, value and learn from other professionals.

For those potential trainees who do not have the requisite professional background there is also the ‘discretionary’ route to training.  This involves a panel of Foundation Trainers considering the candidate’s application on an individual basis, to see whether they have the right skills and understanding.  The panel is looking for candidates who show that they are able to:

• respond sensitively to the range of situations that families going through separation and divorce may face;
• provide structured assistance to those families and be able to work with, value and learn from other professionals;
• demonstrate a commitment to increasing their knowledge and skills, as needed to be a family mediator, beyond their attendance at the Foundation Training;
• process and deliver information and communicate fluently with clients during mediation sessions and in any follow up communications and be able to produce high-quality written documents;
• show that they have given careful consideration to what follows on from the successful completion of the Foundation Training (e.g. how will they obtain work, where might they work, how they will continue their professional development etc.); and
• evidence an awareness of the ongoing obligations and associated costs of practicing as a family mediator following the successful completion of the Foundation Training.

It is very important to have a family mediation profession which is open to the widest range of people possible.   Our goal is to work with every candidate and trainee to explore with them what might be needed for their participation, while ultimately ensuring quality standards for all families with whom we work. 

Why a candidate might be unsuccessful in their initial application to attend Foundation Training

Whilst it is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of reasons why a candidate might be unsuccessful, the starting point is an inability to meet some or all of the selection criteria.  The FMA also reserves the right to refuse a candidate who is not of good standing or who has a criminal record, or whose professional career has included any issue calling into question their professional competence. 

There are also a number of contra indicators that can sometimes be relevant such as:

• a current or recent personal experience which might impact on a candidate’s ability to be objective about the mediation process and the needs of other families or makes it difficult for them to engage in open discussions about divorce and separation during the course;
• an experience which might mean that the content of the Foundation Training is not suitable for the candidate and might be too stressful at the current time.

How we support struggling trainees during the Foundation Training

We recognise that the Foundation Training is a very intense course, requiring a significant commitment in terms of time, investment and personal reflection.   The Foundation Trainers make it a priority to work with the trainees to help them successfully complete the programme.  Where a trainee is struggling the Foundation Trainers will work alongside them to provide tailored support.  This is likely to include a number of different elements including:

• one-to-one support and feedback sessions as and when requested by either the Foundation Trainers or trainee;
• guided and written feedback on any written work and on all role plays observed;
• signposting to useful resources that might provide the requisite support;
• an ability to pause the Foundation Training and resume it at a more suitable time;
• an open and listening ear to trainees and constant observance of group dynamics to ensure it is a safe environment for all.

Why a trainee might not receive their Certificate of Completion of the Foundation Training

We select our trainees under the above criteria with the expectation that they are willing and able to successfully complete the Foundation Training.  It is a professional programme so there is a level of maturity, self-motivation, engagement and commitment required.  In certain circumstances a Certificate of Completion may be withheld. This happens following a detailed assessment by a panel of Foundation Trainers who together decide whether or not the trainee is ready to take up the role and practice as a mediator.  Some examples of why the Certificate of Completion might be withheld include circumstances where the trainee has: 

• failed to attend and/ or fully engage in all 8 days of the Foundation Training;
• failed to produce written assignments and Outcome Documents of the requisite standard, either initially or following resubmission;
• not participated in the many group discussions both within and outside of the taught sessions;
• not fully engaged in all aspects of the Foundation Training to include the many role plays and class discussions;
• failed to demonstrate to a satisfactory standard all the key areas of the FMC Professional Competence Standards within the classroom/simulated environment in both children and property/ finance matters;
• not shown a depth of knowledge or understanding of the mediation principles and process;
• has not yet demonstrated the necessary mediation skills and techniques expected of foundation trainees following the 8 days of the Foundation Training;
• refused to repeat any days of the course or written assignments as required by the Foundation Trainers;
• exhibited such behaviour that the Foundation Trainers do not consider it safe or appropriate to allow the trainee to transition to the role of family mediator at this tim

Where the Certificate of Completion is withheld, the Foundation Trainers will work with the trainee to provide advice and a plan of action as to what is needed to progress their mediation career, if that is what the trainee wants.  We recognise it will be disappointing for a trainee but the FMA is subject to standards imposed by the Family Mediation Standards Board and must ensure that anyone transitioning to the role of mediator has achieved and demonstrated the required level of skills and understanding.