The Family Mediation Council

The College is one of the founding members of the Family Mediation Council who in turn are dedicated to promoting best practice in family mediation. The FMC’s central aim is to ensure the public can confidently access family mediation services that offer high quality mediation provided by mediators who meet our standards.

FMC’s main objectives:

• provide a collaborative forum for members working in the field of family mediation
• represent the views and interests of such professionals and such adults and children who benefit from family mediation
• develop and promote professional standards for the training and practice of family mediation and ensure adherence to and maintenance of such standards
• collate and provide advice and information on all aspects of family mediation
• develop, promote and provide education and training in the practice of family mediation
• advance, promote and carry on study and research into family mediation and disseminate the useful results of such research
• provide the profession of family mediation as a whole, the members, mediation services and family mediators with one unified body to make representations to government and other national interests and to promote family mediation to the media and others.

FMC Board, Directors and Role responsibilities

In accordance with the FMC’s Articles, each of the five members may appoint and maintain in office one Director (referred to by the College as the “Colleges FMC Representative-CFMC Rep) This Directors position on the FMC Board is de facto there to represent the College of Mediators. The CFMC Rep so appointed represents at all times the interest and goodwill of the College notwithstanding the legal description as “FMC Director”. The role specifically, is to assist, advise and comment, during FMC Boards meetings or otherwise, to the FMC Board and the other FMC Directors, the Colleges position on any and all issues the FMC may be deciding upon and relevant to the College.

The CFMC Rep will be expected to take instructions from the Colleges Board and be briefed on any and all issues/agenda items due to be discussed at any forthcoming FMC Board Meetings, to be able to fully discuss and explain the Colleges Board position on such issues/agenda items and vote accordingly in accordance with the Colleges Board instructions. The CFMC Rep will then be expected to attend the Colleges Board meetings, in part, and beforehand to have prepared a briefing note for the Board and CEO as to the discussion and outcome of any prior FMC meeting.

The Current Vacancy

While the College normally appoints the CFMC Rep from its own Board, the College has taken the decision to ensure there is an opportunity for any other individual who would be interested in this role to apply. This would ensure the College has a wide range of applicants and is represented by the very best individual regardless of age, race, sex, gender, disability or otherwise howsoever to ensure the College meets its obligations and objectives, to its members and the FMC and in maintaining the highest professional standards of family mediation.

Role profile requirements

1. You should be a Practicing and Experienced (minimum 3 years) Family Mediator
2. You should also hold the FMCA Accreditation (not be in training)
3. You should have substantial experience of working at Board Level and used to dealing with other Professionals eg Lawyers and Government Officials.
4. Be able to absorb, understand and explain large amounts of information, sometimes in a relatively short period of time.
5. Be able to draft reports to the College Board clearly and succinctly and within timescales.
6. In addition to a mediation background, have experience in one or more of the following areas: staff/project management, IT, finance, marketing, law, publication, education and customer services.
7. Have a passion for high standards in mediation training and service provision.
8. Be available for quarterly FMC Board meetings and, when required, to attend College Board meetings (generally 6 weekly all via Zoom) as well as ongoing work of the College via email/telephone.
9. Preferably, to have some experience in dealing with the mediation Legal Aid Scheme, both in administrative operations and acting as a mediator to legally aided person(s)

Application

If you feel you have the relevant skills and experience for this very important and senior role please submit your application to admin@collegeofmediators.co.uk by the 31^st October 2022, comprising of:

1. Your CV
2. A supporting statement as to your reasons for applying and examples of meeting all or the majority of the role profile requirements.
3. A supporting statement from your PPC or other College member.

Next Stage

An interview panel may then be offered, to those external applicants (defined as anyone other than an existing board director/CFMC Rep) who appear to meet the requirements for this role. The panel will consist of two members of the Board (excluding any current CFMC Rep unless they are retiring) and possibly the CEO as Chair. Following all interviews, the panel will make its recommendations to the Board who will then vote (majority decision) as to the best overall candidate from all applicants, whether internal (Directors and if applicable any existing CFMC Rep wishing to reapply) and all other external applicants.

Terms

1. The term of appointment will be for a period of 12 months (from the date of appointment-normally from the 1^st January each year). At the end of that term the current appointee can seek to be reappointed, though the position could be open to competition. The maximum term that any appointee can remain the CFMC rep is three consecutive years at which point they must retire for one year but can reapply thereafter.
2. Please note that such an appointment is a voluntary role and acceptance by the person proposed for the role means that they agree that the position does not constitute an employment situation with the College and without any obligation for remuneration or expenses incurred for any work or task carried out by the CFMC Rep for the FMC. Any associated expenses for the role however will be met in accordance with paragraph 4 of the FMC Articles.
3. The CFMC Rep will hold the position of FMC Director at the behest of the Colleges Board and it may be terminated without explanation at any time and after formal notice is given to the FMC Secretary according to paragraphs 16 and 33 of the FMC Articles.