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Mediation

Please use the links below to jump to the sections you wish to view, or scroll down the page to view the sections in order.

Introduction
What is Mediation
Mediation is
What Does it Cost
How Does it Work
Accessing the Mediation Service

Introduction

The Shropshire Mediation Partnership is a central government funded service set up collaboratively by the County's statutory housing providers and is operated through Mediation Works.

Mediation is an established method of preventing neighbour disputes escalating into anti-social behavior and of avoiding homelessness arising form exclusion by parents, relatives or friends.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a step by step process where an impartial mediator helps the individual s concerned to sort out their differences quickly, peacefully and confidentially. The Mediator helps them to clarify the real issues at dispute, identifying what they need, exploring a range of solutions and together negotiating an agreement that everyone can accept and live with.

Mediation Is

1. Voluntary - but participants need to want to improve their situation, accept that things need to change, want to negotiate and be willing to abide by the agreements reached
2. Strictly confidential  - this helps people to share difficult or private information and to talk about issues without loss of face
3. Impartial - mediators do not take sides or apportion guilt or blame
4. A safe place to resolve differences and an opportunity for participants to understand the needs of other people concerned as well as their own
5. A process, by which individuals talk face to face about their future with the help of a neutral person in order to reach agreements that take account of their needs, concerns and interests.

What does it cost?

The Shropshire Mediation Partnership is grant-funded by central Government and mediation is free to participants.

How does it work?

Stage 1

Once a case has been referred to Mediation Works, a Mediator will speak initially by telephone to all parties concerned. If they are willing and if the Mediator considers that the problem is likely to be mediatable (s)he will arrange to meet separately with each party at a neutral venue, to discuss the problem in more detail and to explain the mediation process to them. These meetings will normally last an hour, after which a decision will be made about whether both parties wish to proceed to the mediation meeting and whether the Mediator considers that mediation I appropriate.

Stage 2

If both parties feel they do not want to meet face to face the Mediator can act as a go between, Helping the parties reach an agreement that they are both happy with.

Stage 3

If both parties and the Mediator are happy a face to face meeting can be arranged. The meeting is set up and managed by a Mediator, in a neutral venue with ground rules. The Mediator will help the parties to build a better understanding with each other and reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

Stage 4

The Mediator will support and assist the parties to work towards a better understanding and a way of resolving issues in dispute; and to reach an
agreement formulated to achieve resolution. The Mediator will record the details of the agreement using the words of the parties concerned, recording the changes that the parties feel will improve their situation and can be realistically achieved. A copy will be given to all parties and with their permission a further copy will be sent to the referring agent.

Any agreement reached is not carved in stone and either party can approach the mediation service again if they have any further concerns.

How do I access the Mediation Service?

If you feel that Mediation would benefit your situation, please contact Oswestry Borough Council on 01691 677242. They will then refer your case to Mediation Works.