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Family mediator

Alternative titles for this job include

Family mediators help divorcing or separating couples reach agreement without having to go to court.

Average salary (a year)

£18,000 Starter

to

£35,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 37 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends attending events or appointments

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a family mediator

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • volunteering
  • applying directly
  • training with a professional association

University

You could do a degree or postgraduate diploma that would give you some of the skills needed for this role. Relevant subjects include:

  • social work
  • law
  • counselling
  • psychology
  • psychotherapy
  • education

You'll improve your job prospects if you then take an accredited training programme approved by the Family Mediation Council (FMC). These include:

  • a taught foundation course
  • a period of practical experience
  • support to build a portfolio of evidence

Accredited training providers may expect you to have several years of relevant work experience dealing with conflict and managing interpersonal relationships, as well as your degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

Volunteering

Voluntary experience of working with families will help you to get into training to do this job. This could be in settings like family support centres, counselling services or child contact centres.

Volunteering at a local community mediation service, for instance helping to settle neighbour disputes, can also be useful experience.

Direct Application

You could apply for a job as a trainee family mediator if you have a higher education qualification and experience in an area like:

  • law
  • social work
  • counselling

As part of the selection process, you'll need to show you have the right personal qualities and skills to be a family mediator.

Other Routes

You can do training with a professional association that works in mediation. Training entry requirements vary between them but most will expect you to have relevant experience from paid work or volunteering.

Associations include:

More Information

Career tips

Many people move into family mediation as a second career, so life experience and evidence of supporting people through challenging issues is valued.

Further information

You'll find more advice about working in family mediation through the Family Mediation Council.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • persuading and negotiating skills
  • active listening skills
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • knowledge of equality and diversity issues
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • meet clients to explain the mediation process and identify the issues to discuss
  • help people find agreeable ways to communicate with each other
  • listen to each client’s feelings and concerns
  • discuss issues like child residence and contact, property and money
  • help clients to consider all options and suggest and discuss solutions
  • keep discussions fair, equal and focused
  • keep accurate and confidential records of discussions
  • summarise agreements in writing
  • recognise when mediation is not working
  • work with solicitors and courts when necessary

Working environment

You could work in an office.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience you could set up your own mediation practice, train and supervise other mediators, or become a service manager.

You could use your mediation skills in other careers like housing, social work or advice work.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a family mediator right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

BA (Hons) Social Work

  • Provider: NEW COLLEGE DURHAM
  • Start date: 05 September 2022
  • Location: Durham

BA (Hons) in Social Work

  • Provider: HEART OF WORCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 12 September 2022
  • Location: Redditch
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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