Mediation is a method of resolving disputes that avoids the painful and costly legal or formal methods. It is being used by the Courts in cases of divorce to resolve the problems of separation with the minimum of ill-feeling and damage to others involved.

We use telephone mediation. Our telephone mediation service is easy, simple and effective. Telephone mediation in particular builds on the capacity of people to resolve their issues without feeling embarrassed or undermined by external intervention. It is very beneficial in work-based problems between staff, where there are family business problems, and problems with a high emotional content.

Success rates for mediation are very high where it is used to resolve differences of behaviour or conduct (bullying, harassment, attitude, non–co-operation and poor performance). It does not replace conciliation and arbitration where a contractual issue is disputed.

Mediators have a skill for listening, for establishing clarity on concerns which divide people, and an eye for misunderstandings that add fuel to disagreements. The purpose of mediation is to educate people towards dealing with the difficult situation themselves in a way which works.

Face-to-face confrontation between parties is avoided until the matter is well on the way to a resolution. The telephone process normally takes up to three hours, and there are three stages.

• First the Mediator will listen to the problem explained by those involved.
  
• Second the Mediator will work with each person to help them understand the situation and ways in which it might be resolved.
  
• Third the parties are assisted to discuss the matter in a way that results in a resolution acceptable to all involved and will be an enduring agreement.

This process is designed to promote a resolution that works, so there is no need for any legal or written agreement at the end (unless those involved request it). Our Mediators are lawyers and psychologists trained in this specialised field.

Charges are £100 per hour for telephone mediation. Our mediators find that he majority of two-party disputes can be successfully resolved within three hours.