Log book submission guidance
General note
It is important that you submit your log book for review in a complete state.
Log books should be submitted in electronic format.
You will receive confirmation that your log book has been reviewed (usually within 3 weeks) and either you meet the minimum requirements to remain on the CEDR Solve panel of mediators or your name will be removed from the panel until the minimum requirements have been met within a maximum period of four months.
Please remember that payment of the annual CEDR Exchange fee is a pre-requisite of remaining on the panel.
Checklist
The following forms should be submitted annually to evidence compliance with a number of criteria:
- Two mediations
- Two mediation summaries
- One mediation debrief and one debrief of another mediator
- Eight hours of structured training
- Further learning (e.g. attending seminars, conferences, published articles)
This will be submitted electronically to . (Please note, if you are a new member of the Solve panel and CEDR Faculty you need only submit your CEDR Solve new mediator report.)
Personal debriefing / debriefing other mediators
Medium requirement: one personal debrief
debrief of another mediator
Purpose of debriefing
The purpose of this process is to:
• share experience of mediations so that all mediators may gain further insight and
understanding of the process and their role within it
• enable inexperienced mediators, especially assistant mediators, to be supported
and / or mentored by those with experience
• give feedback to others, through CEDR, of points worth sharing
• enable mediators to learn from each experience and move on from it.
Model format
The debrief should be in person between the actual mediator and the mentor mediator (or group) who was NOT involved in the case.
The mentor mediator should be an experienced CEDR accredited mediator but other
mediators may be used if CEDR mediators are unavailable.
The debrief should ideally take place within two weeks of the mediation and is likely to
take between 30-60 minutes. It should be structured along the following lines:
1. Outline of pre-mediation preparation (including telephone calls/meetings).
2. Chronological description of mediation from arrival to close.
3. Detailed discussion on learning points, particularly what went well (and what did
not go well).
The ‘mentor mediator’ should review, question and challenge in such a way as to enable
the mediator / assistant to reflect on the skills they used and their management of the
process. This should give them insights and greater understanding which will enable them,
through rigorous exploration of this current experience, to be a more effective mediator in
the future.
The ‘mentor mediator’ may give advice or suggested alternatives to the mediator /
assistant mediator, particularly if requested, but should always remember that mediation is
a flexible process with few right or wrong techniques.
The experienced ‘mentor mediator’ (or group) should be alert to patterns that may
emerge through the debriefing of a series of mediations as well as specific individual points
of interest. Sharing of such patterns can be fed back to the common pool of on going
learning about mediation through the records contained in mediator log books.
Approved variations to model format
The debrief may be done by a group of mediators and several debriefs may be done at the
same event. Therefore each could debrief the other, preferably with a senior mentor
mediator’ taking overall responsibility.
Telephone or conference call debriefs are acceptable as a last resort if no other option can
be agreed. However, the quality and benefit of the debrief may be much reduced by this method.
Please note that confidentiality is a core principle of mediation and applies to these
debriefs. It is recommended that parties’ names are not used and that sensitive facts are
excluded. The debrief is on the structure, techniques and learning points not on facts or
issues.
How to complete this section
Personal debrief
Following your debrief with a mediator NOT involved in the case itself, you will need to
complete the form headed personal debrief in your log book. On this you need to summarise
the learning points from your debrief session.
Debriefing another mediator
For this section you simply need to record the sessions during which you provided a
sounding board for another mediator’s personal debrief. Record this on the relevant form
noting the name of the mediator, date of the session and a brief outline of the discussion
points.
Structured training
For new CEDR Solve mediators (with less than 3 years experience)
Standard: minimum 8 hours in total
Structured training encourages the development of further mediation skills and knowledge
through recognised training. Training is classed as ‘structured’ if a participant would
potentially perform more effectively as a mediator as a result.
Areas of structured training may include:
• Communication skills
• Negotiation
• Problem solving
• Other mediation training (family, community, environment, cross-culture)
• Legal awareness
• Risk analysis
• Partnering / alliance-building
• Advanced mediation skills
• Other dispute resolution processes
• Conflict management / avoidance
• Mediation practice such as simulated mediation or peer review
• Training of others in appropriate cases (or example where case studies have been
developed).
The total of 8 hours can be made up from a number of different events.
How to complete this section
List the courses at the start of the section and include copies of any certificate, programme
or course material which you have as evidence of your attendance. It is also useful to note
down any learning outcomes of the training events.
Further learning
Standard: no minimum requirement
This section provides a record of voluntary development which may include:
• Regular update through reading, articles, press summaries etc
• Participation in working or development groups on mediation
• Writing articles, developing and/ or delivering mediation training
• Attendance at CEDR forums
• Arranging / leading training and similar events
• Promotion of mediation.
To demonstrate this you may include:
• Book / video / audio / TV programme reviews
• Copies of articles read / written
• Training programmes
• Working group activities
• Events diary
Samples of materials should be included in the log book.
How to complete this section
List these and include any details you can provide which may be of interest to share with
other mediators e.g. flyers of events, copies of articles etc. Training of others and organising
local events is currently regarded as falling within this section in most cases, however in
specific cases may count towards structured training. Please check with CEDR Solve if you are not sure.
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