Join Family Mediation Jersey as Family Mediator

Why Join FMJ?

FMJ is a not-for-profit charity providing confidential, professional mediation services to families in Jersey. We help families navigate complex issues such as separation, childcare arrangements, financial settlements, and intergenerational disputes. Our work is impactful, and our Trustees play a vital role in shaping our future.

About the Family Mediator Role

Family mediators are professional mediators who are trained to help families resolve disputes relating to divorce, separation, child custody, parenting time, and other family matters. They act as neutral third parties to facilitate communication between those who are unable to reach agreement on their own, by helping them to reach an agreement that is acceptable to all sides.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct an initial meeting with clients (jointly or separately) to explain the mediation process and the steps involved, to assess their suitability, their needs and their goals and agree an agenda (called the intake meeting).
• Listen to each of the client’s feelings and concerns and summarise points made by each party.
• Establish ground rules for communication that ensure that all participants are heard without interruption or threat.
• Complete all required documentation and secure appropriate evidence as required. • Obtain and complete full financial disclosure with clients.
• Help the parties create a list of issues that need to be resolved which may include, but are not limited to, child residence and contact, property, and money.
• Suggest and discuss possible workable solutions.
• Enable and facilitate clients in the full consideration of options available and help them to reach agreement on issues that affect them. 
• Maintain fairness, equality, and adherence to the terms of the agreement to mediate.
• Keep accurate and confidential records. • Summarise sessions and agreements in the form of the production of an Open Financial Statement (OFS) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
• Recognise where there is breakdown in mediation, deal with it accordingly and in the best interest of the clients.
• Complete all internal documentation 
• Undertake regular individual and group supervision and CPD.

Qualifications, skills, interests, and qualities required: 

• A good education, ideally to degree level or beyond, with experience gained in a related area such as: family law, through working with families in some capacity; through working in the courts; in work involving mediation; or through experience in supporting/facilitating roles with other charities and professional employment.
• Possess a recognised family mediation qualification or be prepared to study towards obtaining the qualification (see further information below).
• The ability to apply mediation theory to practice.
• A mature approach
• Proven literacy and numerical skills and competent in the use of technology
• Excellent communication and active listening skills
• The ability to relate to people from all backgrounds 
• Empathy, tact, and sensitivity
• A confident and assertive manner, and the ability keep discussions moving forward
• The ability to bee fair, objective, unbiased and non-judgemental 
• Possess patience, commitment, and enthusiasm
• The flexibility to work individually, in pairs or as a group, as necessary 
• The ability to think creatively and resolve problems
• A preparedness to deal with people who may be emotional, upset, vulnerable, angry or distressed
• Excellent recording and reporting skills
• Flexible availability to attend mediations
• Possession of a registration card showing ‘entitled’ or ‘entitled for work’ residential and employment status, and permission to live and work in Jersey without a work permit. 

Mandatory training: 

To become a family mediator, successful applicants must possess or complete a recognised family mediation training course which will be sponsored by FMJ. Training is provided both locally and in conjunction with the National Family Mediation Service (NFM), via an online training programme. 

Successful applicants will be required to enter a training contract with FMJ prior to the commencement of training.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 

It is imperative that all FMJ mediators update their skills and knowledge annually and retain their approved status with NFM. Mediators are required to undertake a specified number of hours of CPD each year as well as attending regular supervision and support meetings with our nominated PPCs. 

Terms of employment: 

All FMJ Mediators are employed part-time, on zero-hour contracts.It is essential that applicants have the flexibility to attend mediation appointments during the day. This is not currently an onerous or regular weekly commitment. Most mediations take place primarily during normal working hours and we do our best to accommodate the occasional request for a late afternoon meeting. Terms and conditions of service will be available at interview. 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact Elaine Feltham, Manager FMJ. Email: e.feltham@fmj.je or Telephone: 638898.

How to Apply

If you are a qualified Family Mediator or are interested in training to become a Family Mediator, please contact Elaine Feltham Manager of Family Mediation Jersey for an informal discussion about the post.

Applications, including a CV should be made by email to recruitment@fmj.je or by post to Family Mediation Jersey, Suite 7, Bourne House, Francis Street, St Helier, JE2 4QE.