NRM Network

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a confidential process, where an impartial third party, a mediator, assists two or more people in dispute, to reach a mutually acceptable agreement to resolve their dispute. The mediator is in charge of guiding people through a structured voluntary process that helps them to explore their issues of concern assisting parties to a clearer understanding of what they need to do to resolve their concerns. The mediator is not there to judge or to say one person is right or wrong or to tell people what to do. Mediation supports people to arrive at their own workable solutions in mutual agreement whilst at the same time retaining ownership of the outcome and agreement. Agreement is arrived at and decided by the people themselves and not by the mediator. A written agreement, once approved and signed by all sides can be legally enforceable under the Mediation Act 2017.

The principles of mediation include parties voluntary participation (parties may withdraw at anytime without the need for explanation), confidentiality both in the process and applicable to all forms of communications contained in the mediated sessions, the parties right to self-determination of outcome, the neutrality of the mediator and a commitment to completing the process in a timely manner suited to the nature of the dispute.