Home | who we are | our vision, mission and aims | what we do | Brent Mediation project

Our Services

Mediation 
Restorative practices
Peer mediation for schools
Training and workshops 
Facilitation
Emotional support for front line staff
Organisational communications audits
Independent investigations
Dealing with workplace stress 


Mediation

When a conflict becomes difficult to resolve or is in danger of escalating,
an independent mediator can help the parties to find resolution using a
tried and tested

  • Meeting with each party independently pre-mediation.
  • (Re-)Establishing a meaningful connection between the parties
  • Identifying the underlying interests, motivations and needs of each party
  • Allowing each party to hear and be heard by the other
  • Building back trust and commitment
  • Removing judgement and punishment or imposed solutions
  • Transforming both parties to want to contribute positively 
  • Developing agreed solutions
  • Written agreements

Mediations can be between two conflicting parties or between all the affected parties.

  • Areas of Provision
  • Neighbour/community mediation
  • Victim-Offender mediation
  • Peer (school-based) mediation
  • Special or Additional Needs mediation
  • Workplace mediation
  • Family (separating couples) mediation
  • Young people and family/carer (homelessness) mediation
  • Civil dispute (commercial) mediation
  • Environmental mediation
  • Health complaints mediation
  • Mediator Support and Supervision


To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top

Restorative practices

Justice from the Heart

Justice from the Heart is a restorative approach which offers ways to establish meaningful dialogue and achieve constructive outcomes. It addresses how to repair harm and reduce suffering for those affected by conflict.

The foundation of the approach is that those who cause harm are expected to take responsibility for their actions, and take an active role in resolving the problem. At the same time, those who are harmed are able to be heard and understood, and be involved in the reparation process. From this foundation, different strategies can be used depending on the type and severity of the incident. These might include enquiries, mediation and restorative circle dialogues. All of these result in agreements and/or action plans which are recorded and measurable.

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top

Peer Mediation for Schools
 
What Is Peer Mediation?
 
Peer Mediation is a form of conflict resolution carried out within peer groups, usually
in schools. Its aim is to teach children and young people how to resolve conflict compassionately and peacefully.

Pupils are trained in communication skills such as listening, respecting other points of view and demonstrating empathy. The trained peer mediators empower disputants to work together to find solutions that are agreeable to all parties.
 

Why Peer Mediation?
 
Peer Mediation aims to enhance children’s learning and prepare them for coping with conflict wherever they may encounter it.

Conflict arises for many different reasons, in the playground, at home or in the classroom. When conflict arises it is important that everyone feels they have been treated fairly and that the conflict has been dealt with appropriately. Mediation empowers everyone involved to resolve their differences without the need to fight it out. Mediators guide disputants through their conflict to reach agreements that end the dispute peacefully.
 

How does Peer Mediation fit into school life?

Peer Mediation is a voluntary process during which trained pairs of pupils act as mediators for their peer group. A rota system is put in place and the mediators can be called on whenever an incident occurs. Peer mediation schemes often operate in school during free time.
 
 
What are the benefits?

Peer Mediation can:

  • Reduce the number of exclusions
  • Reduce incidents of bullying
  • Change repetitive patterns of misbehaviour
  • Resolve minor disputes without adult intervention
  • Improve behaviour and increase respect
  • Give power to those who are victimised


Training

Mediation training takes place within school time and works within the curriculum PHSE and in creating an emotionally healthy school under the context of Every Child Matters.

Training is usually carried out over 3 days. There is a noticeable difference in a young person’s ability to handle conflict early on in the training process. Trainees are given tasks to try out and encouraged to practise their mediation skills at school and home.
Learning mentors are encouraged to work closely with the trainers to increase staff awareness and knowledge
 

Peer Mediation for your school

Would you like to talk to us about what a Peer Mediation Scheme could do for your school?

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top


Training and workshops

CPS delivers a transformative model for internal and external communications
 
Trainings we offer:

  • Basic and advanced mediation skills and theory
  • Conflict resolution 
  • Recognising conflict early on
  • Intervening in a dispute
  • Dealing with difficult people
  • Initiating and supporting difficult conversations
  • Diversity and equality
  • Authentic Leadership
  • Managing and supervising teams
  • Telephone communications skills
  • Restorative Justice processes
  • Peer mediation
  • Dealing with customer complaints
  • Positive workplace communications

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top


 Facilitation

Facilitation is a skilled process for meetings which is particularly useful when there are different needs and priorities around the table.
 
A facilitator allows everyone present in a meeting to have their voice, whilst also listening and being mindful of others. When situations require solutions that take account of differing stakeholder needs, facilitation will help you to:

  • Clarify and meet your objectives
  • make decisions from a place of knowledge
  • Remove judgement, blame and criticism
  • Define roles and responsibilities
  • Resolve and prevent conflicts
  • Foster an atmosphere of positive contribution 


Sounding Board can provide a facilitator when an independent and neutral party is needed or can train individuals to become facilitators.
 
To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top


Emotional support for front line staff

Supporting frontline staff to be emotionally fit for their work is
becoming a serious Health and Safety issue for employers.
 
The costs of not doing so can mount up. The direct costs of sickness,
recruitment, bad publicity and legal claims against the employer
are all too obvious.
 
There are also many indirect costs which are less noticeable but
they can have an enormous impact on an organisation at a much
earlier stage. Tension, anxiety and stress when not properly
processed lead to conflict, demotivation and negative attitudes
that can seriously harm productivity, create unhealthy workplaces
and damage the organisation as a whole.
 
In a culture where declaring anxiety is frowned upon and seen as
weakness, it becomes even more essential that employers provide
external support that is confidential, neutral, safe and supportive.
 
Maria Arpa provides a safe space where stress, anxiety and tension
can be transformed into self confidence and self assurance.
 
Using a model of compassion and empathy clients are encouraged
to learn coping strategies which can help them recognise and
transform stress into positive energy before it becomes damaging.
 
Sessions can be a mixture of individual sessions for complete
confidentiality and group support to encourage team working
and build organisational trust.
 
Support packages are tailor made and can be charged per session
or as a package for a group of employees.  
 

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top

Organisational Communications Audits

The best chance for success comes from creating internal and external climates that encourage goals and enlist the cooperation of employees in problem solving.  Successful climates are the result of a planned communication strategy based on periodic audits.
 
In order to help you create a successful climate we work with your organisation to establish honest answers to these questions from your employees or members:
 

  • What do they think about current communications programmes—are they working?
  • Do they feel that the information communicated to them is timely, accessible, and credible?
  • How can these communications be improved?
  • What other sources do your employees or members use to get their information about the organisation?
  • How would they prefer to get their information?
  • Which communication vehicles are considered the most valuable, most timely, most accessible and most credible?
  • What information do employees or members want more or less of?
  • How well do your employees or members know and understand your key messages, mission, strategies, and objectives?
  • How do your employees or members believe they treated by the management?
  • Do your employees or members feel their contribution is recognised?

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top

Independent Internal Investigation

As part of handling internal procedures such as allegations, complaints, disciplinary
or grievances, Sounding Board provides an independent investigation service which involves:
 

  • Creating a safe, confidential environment 
  • Active listening and questioning techniques
  • Neutrality and impartiality which is free from blame or judgement
  • Accurate interpretation of differing attitudes, behaviours, feelings,
    perceptions and facts
  • Nurturing openness by ensuring that privacy and confidentiality is respected
  • Keeping expectations real
  • Writing a thorough and rigorous report
  • Making recommendations for further action


Workplace investigations can be involved, complex and stressful for all the parties involved. Using an independent resource can remove some of the pressure as well as ensure that neutrality is maintained.
 
Independent investigations are particularly useful for identifying and clarifying issues around bullying, harrassment and discrimination.
 

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top


Dealing with workplace stress

At a time when the UK has the longest working week in Europe, the highest incidence of adult depression, the highest divorce rate and the most congested roads, actively relieving employee stress is becoming an ethical choice for many businesses.
 
The HSE is currently raising employers' awareness of the need to tackle work-related stress. They have defined stress as "the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them". Since personal problems can also affect workplace attitudes and relationships, it makes sense for employers to take a
holistic approach to the well-being of their employees.

Allowing employees to experience regular Counselling and Reiki sessions will alleviate stress and fatigue, improve clarity of thinking and problem solving, encourage a calmer
and more balanced atmosphere, boost morale, increase loyalty and reduce absenteeism and help physical well-being.

By offering Counselling and Reiki in the workplace an employer can be visibly seen to be taking an active approach to alleviating stress.

How can an employer offer Counselling and Reiki to employees?

To discuss your requirements or find out more call 020 7625 8600 or email

back to top


Registered Charity No 1117611

To contact us ring 020 7625 8600 or email

You can also visit www.themediationlink.co.uk | www.mariaarpa.co.uk