Train as a Family Mediator

The foundation family mediation training usually takes around 4 months (over 4 modules) and the amount of time it will take to achieve accreditation will depend on the amount of experience you are able to gain during the accreditation process. It can take anywhere between six months and two years to get the casework experience needed to be able to submit your portfolio.

The FMC allows up to three years to submit your portfolio from completion of foundation training.

NFM Foundation Family Mediation Training requires candidates to demonstrate on application that they have a high level of critical analysis and independent thinking, and have the ability to relate theory to practice. Candidates will need to show that they meet the “essential” criteria set out on this person specification. Formal qualifications and prior relevant experience are also considered with excellent literacy and numeracy skills being a core essential.

By the end of the course, we will be looking for particular skills and abilities, such as the ability to address clients in a non-judgmental and respectful manner, to listen well, and to help clients develop options without imposing your own views.

our experience is always valuable. We often have new trainees coming to us from related fields, and they bring knowledge and skills which we encourage them to use and share. If, however, you want to be eligible to register with the FMC as an accredited family mediator, you will need to complete the full Foundation Family Mediation Training programme. If you are seeking to extend existing skills in other areas of work please get in touch and we will be happy to discuss other possibilities.

If you wish to practice as an accredited family mediator in England and Wales you will have to complete an approved foundation training programme such as NFM’s Foundation Family Mediation programme, and proceed through the FMC accreditation process. This is because family mediators in England and Wales are responsible for authorising applications to court in family matters and only FMC-accredited family mediators are eligible to sign these court application forms.

Mediators who have trained in other jurisdictions outside England and Wales will need to contact the Family Mediation Standards Board (FMSB) to find out if their previous mediation training and experience qualifies them to work in family mediation in England and Wales. It is likely that some or all of the family mediation training will need to be covered and once the FMSB has outlined what needs to be done, mediators can contact us to discuss their training needs.

In some instances, it may be possible to take into account some prior knowledge and skills, in this case you may be able to undertake a conversion course.

When choosing a family mediation foundation training course you need to ensure that the course you are considering is FMC-approved. Only by attending an authorised training programme can you progress to become a recognised and accredited family mediator.

NFM is an approved FMC training provider. It is also the longest-established provider of family mediation in England and Wales and is widely regarded as the best training provider in the field today.

The course is delivered in four modules. There are two taught modules, currently delivered online via Zoom, and two distance learning modules, each requiring 20 hours of study. These take place over a three or four-month period with the expectation that written assignments are completed before, between and immediately after the taught modules.

Ongoing assessment of your skills and knowledge is an integral part of the course. This will include observing your performance in simulated practice in the classroom setting, and the submission of written assignments which are marked by the trainers. Provided you meet the standards set, you will pass the course.

Click here to read the full learning outcomes of each module.

To become a fully trained family mediator all four modules must be completed. The course is delivered in a range of formats, e.g. work completed as a whole group, as individuals, in pairs, in groups etc. All elements of the training are supported by written handouts that support the distance learning workbook assignments to consolidate learning.

Presentation of the information by the trainers also uses a range of styles and techniques to aid learning. You will be expected to take part in group work with a trainer observing for the assessment procedure. These are not exam conditions; they are aimed at facilitating learning and the trainer will help you if you have difficulty.

Before, between and immediately after the taught modules, you will be required to complete tasks and assignments, some of which will be for assessment purposes. These are via our online classroom and will include reading set articles and commenting on them, reflecting on your own values/prejudices and how they might impact upon practice and any preparatory reading needed for the next module. Assessed assignments will be submitted by agreed deadlines during the course. Your certificate of completion will not be issued if the assignments are not completed and assessed. It is expected that the two distance learning modules will take 20 hours each, including work on the set assignments.

You will receive a Certificate of Completion provided you have satisfactorily completed all four modules (this will mean reaching the required standard when assessed), and it will include an assessment of the set assignments.

You will also receive a detailed assessment of your particular skills, strengths and areas to develop. The assessment criteria will be explained in detail at the beginning of the course.

Following completion of our Family Mediation Training you will also have free access to our ‘Working Towards Accreditation Course’ to help guide you through the portfolio-building process to become an accredited Family Mediator.

The aim of the course is to help you achieve certification. If you meet the entry requirements, and once engaged in the course you demonstrate commitment, understanding and willingness to learn as well as completing the required assignments, it is likely you will reach the standard needed to pass the course. The trainers are there to work with you to develop your skills, identify areas you are struggling with and help you when you don’t understand something.

Becoming a good mediator takes knowledge, understanding and, above all, skill. The NFM Foundation Family Mediation Training programme is designed to help you and teach you the required level of skill to proceed to practice. We expect mistakes, but we also expect substantial progress where we can see a trainee is improving until they meet the criteria. We will give you continual feedback, so you will know how you are progressing and any areas that may need additional attention. Your assessment document will detail in what way you did not reach the required standard for assessment and, where appropriate, the options you may have in order to improve.

National Family Mediation is a unique provider of family mediation. Family mediation started in the voluntary sector in the early 1980s. The code of practice and the specific training needed to become a family mediator were devised and developed by NFM, and have since been adopted and used by other mediation providers.

A cornerstone of NFM’s success is its commitment to professional standards and the delivery of professional services. Our priority is to the training of highly skilled practitioners who deliver a high-quality service for the benefit of families affected by relationship breakdown.

NFM training will give you a comprehensive and inclusive set of skills and knowledge to work in this field that is unrivalled and unmatched by any other training currently in the market today. In short, we are the specialists in this field.

The trainers have been selected and recruited by NFM in an open recruitment process. They are practising mediators who have been carefully selected because of their significant experience, professional backgrounds, and proven track records in delivering excellent quality training. Their backgrounds include teaching, managing, legal professions, social work, and others. The trainers also work as a team to ensure the training course and materials incorporate new practice developments and initiatives. In this way, we are confident that the services provided are fit for purpose and focused on client needs. At least two trainers are assigned to each course to ensure that you have excellent access to help and advice where you need it.

Whilst undertaking the training it is not a requirement to engage the services of a PPC as the course is assessed by the trainers on your completion of the modules and self-study units to a satisfactory standard. PPCs can however be very useful in supporting you with observations and co-working. As part of the training, and included in the course cost, we provide a one-hour post-training session with a PPC.

If you are planning to become a qualified mediator after successful completion of the course, you will need to contract with a PPC to supervise your practice and casework to help you progress towards accreditation with the FMC. Once in practice, there are standard requirements for the number of hours of supervision you are required to undertake including continuing professional development (CPD) required each year. It may be possible to negotiate a contract with the PPC provided through NFM following training or you may wish to choose someone else.

If you are working for NFM or attached to an NFM service, a PPC will be appointed and you can discuss any supervision you will receive directly with them.

To register on to a our family mediation foundation programme, you should ensure you meet the training criteria requirements and have read our terms & conditions.  Before you can register for the full NFM Foundation Training Programme you will need to attend our one-day preparation course : NFM Introduction Day.  You can find details of current dates for this course below.

Once you have attended this introduction day, you are then able to register to join one of our foundation training programmes.  Below you will be able to view the courses currently available and you can choose the course you would like to register on – please do check that you are able to attend all sessions of the course.  You will then be asked to complete a short registration form and can pay the deposit that is due online or request an invoice.

Our training team will then be in touch with further details and confirmation of your booking.