Safeguarding
RG Mediation is firmly committed to ensure the safety of every child, young person or vulnerable individual
Mediators have a duty to act upon concerns that an adult may be at risk from another person or presents a risk to themselves or others. Wherever safe, the mediator will provide information about support services and assist the person at risk to take protective action themselves; the mediator may need to follow up to ensure action has been taken. Where the risk is immediate or serious, the mediator will take direct action to report the risk. Usually this will be to the police.
Cases already in mediation will be suspended until safeguarding issues have been addressed. We will obtain information from protective services such a Children’s Services or the police to inform whether it is safe and appropriate to resume mediation once the risk has been addressed.
Mediation is an excellent choice for most people seeking to resolve family disputes that arise from separation or family breakdown, however it is not the right choice for everyone. If you are worried or have special requirements, tell your mediator in the Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. We will do all that we can to support and protect you and, where we can’t help through mediation, we will signpost you to other services that can help.
Child Protection
Family Mediation is a confidential process, but where there are concerns about the safety of a child, the protection of children overrides the principles of both confidentiality and parental decision-making. The mediator will explain this to you at your first meeting, called a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). You will also confirm that you understand this at the start of your first mediation session, when you sign an agreement to mediate.
Where an issue is raised which causes a mediator to reasonably believe that a child is at risk of harm or significant harm, the requirement is for that mediator to assess the level of risk immediately.
- If the risk is immediate and significant the mediator will immediately contact the relevant social services team. If social services is already involved, the mediator may need to find out more details from the relevant team.
- The mediator should speak to their PPC or relevant supervisor straight away, as soon as practicable.
- In the most serious of cases, if the mediator believes a criminal offence is going to be committed, they must contact the Police, calling 999 or the relevant Child Protection Unit.
- The mediator should refer to the policies and procedures of their governing body or association of which they are a member.
Where appropriate the mediator should consider following up any telephone disclosure with something in writing and should do so within 24 hours where appropriate.
The mediator must immediately (or within a reasonable time such as the circumstances allow) bring the mediation to an end.