Child Inclusive Mediation

Within all child and AIM mediation sessions the child's views and needs will be the cornerstone to any agreements being reached. In cases where it is appropriate, there can be huge benefits from allowing the child's own views to be included in the decision-making process. In these cases, your mediator will talk to you, the parents, about the option of a Child Inclusive Mediation approach. 

Child Inclusive Mediation will only be used when both your mediator and both parents agree that this is an approach which will help the agreements to be reached, while also ensuring safeguarding the child.

Express Their Views 

Often children feel more able to express their views by talking to someone neutral when their parents are separating. Research has shown that direct consultation with children can help parents to listen more to their children views and ultimately make better decisions.

This short video tells the story of Chloe, a teenager struggling to adjust after her parents’ separation. Highlighting the benefits of CIM to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are met in the process of separation.

In CIM, a specially trained mediator will meet with the children, this will be separate to the mediation sessions and will be held with neither parent present. Our mediator, who undertakes these assessments, has built up decades of experience in mediation and has not only had significant extra training in regards to undertaking CIM, but has also been subject to an enhanced DBS check. The inclusion of a child assessment into the mediation process has an additional charge of £75 per parent. 

Confidenchal

What is said in the meeting by the child is confidential and the child will decide, with their mediators support, what information is passed on to their parents during the following mediation sessions. 

The mediator’s job is to act as an impartial third party and manage the process of the mediation, helping you to exchange information, ideas and feelings constructively. 

The mediator is not there to impose a decision or a settlement, the responsibility for all decisions remains ultimately with yourselves.