HALTON YMCA NIGHTSTOP
INTRODUCTION TO THE MEDIATION SERVICE
WHAT IS FAMILY MEDIATION?
Family mediation is a planned process, voluntarily entered into, in which young people and their families are empowered to talk, resolve family difficulties and find a way forward. It is a confidential, non-judgmental and independent service.
Mediators are trained persons who get involved in a dispute in order to help parties resolve it, and help the parties to voluntarily reach agreement. Mediators do not make decisions about who is right or wrong or what the best outcome should be. A key advantage to mediation is that the parties have significant control over the end result.
The aim of the mediation service is to prevent homelessness. This can be done in two ways:
Ø By providing mediation to families who’s relationship has become chaotic, but which has not yet resulted in a young person becoming homeless,
Ø Or to a family whose relationship breakdown has led to the young person becoming homeless already, and where mediation can be used to try and encourage the young person to go back home, or to repair the relationship.
Family mediation is not a counselling service, and if necessary, the mediator will refer on to outside agencies to access additional support.
Our mediators will listen to the young person and families concerns, and help them explore alternative courses of action to resolve the difficulties. They will not take sides or make decisions, and will act as the third party, managing the process and encouraging constructive communication.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE MEDIATION SERVICE?
Ø Young people between the ages 16 and 25years old who are suffering as a result of family conflict.
Ø Family members who are concerned that the behaviour of a young person may result in them being made homeless
Ø WHY DO FAMILIES SOMETIMES NEED MEDIATION?
Conflict is a fact of life, and every family has arguments at some point. Usually arguments are easily resolved, but sometimes they just get worse. Arguments can be over many things, the young person’s choice of friends, lack of respect for curfews, a change in the family dynamics such as a new step-parent or rules that the young person believes to be unfair. These issues can be very stressful for families and can lead onto more serious problems if they are not resolved early on.
HOW CAN MEDIATION HELP?
In the middle of an argument it can be really hard for a young person to talk about their feelings to those closest to them, and it can be equally as hard for them to be listened to, or listen to others. Mediation will help to facilitate effective communication, and also,
Ø Enable young people and family members to better understand themselves and how they relate to others
Ø Enable mutual decision making
Ø Assist both parties to find their own solutions and move forward
Ø Support the rebuilding of relationships
CONFIDENTIALITY
Mediation is a confidential service, however if it is disclosed that a young person is in a life threatening situation, or if you believe a young person under 17 years old may be experiencing mental, physical or sexual abuse then confidentiality will be broken, and reported to the appropriate agency.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once you have been referred to Nightstop by an outside agency the parents/carers involved in the dispute will be invited to an initial meeting, and they will discuss what they hope to achieve. Next step, the young person will be invited to an initial meeting and discuss the same issues. If the mediator feels that mediation will be beneficial for you they will arrange for both the young person and parents/carers to attend their first joint mediation session. The length of each session is usually around an hour, and the number of sessions required is usually between two and four.
“We often get caught up in our own reactions and forget the vulnerability of the person in front of us.”
“Action may not always bring happiness ... but there is no happiness without action”.
Nightstop