Page 56 - Meeting with Children Manual

Section 4 P a ge | 54

The following graphic shows how a room might be laid out for a feedback session. It
is important that the child consultant sits in a position where they are equidistant
between the parents. Perceptions of bias can simply occur because the consultant is
seated more closely to one parent than the other. The consultant role is therefore to
chair the meeting and present the feedback as provided by the children.

The mediator positioning is much less relevant. The role of the mediator is to write
on the white board the feedback
from the child consultant in dot
point form. The mediator would
only intervene if an issue arose in
the feedback session whereby one
or both parents begin to argue
with the child consultant. In these
circumstances, the mediator can
intervene to (in a sense) mediate
between the parent(s) and the
child consultant.

The mediator(s) move to the side of the room and the role of the child consultant is
to provide clear information to the parents according to the plan agreed from the
planning process with the mediator.

When the Family Mediator is Also Acting as the Child Consultant

In the circumstances where the child consultant function is also being performed by
the family mediator, great skill is required to ensure that the feedback being brought
to each parent is balanced. However, where feedback is likely to not be balanced, the
mediator/child consultant should consider providing the feedback initially in an
individual session format, with the feedback in the joint session mainly focused on the
common issues to both parents.

Mediator as child consultant processes work best when the degree of conflict between
parents is not regarded as high. There is a significant gain in this approach for parents
and children in that:
 The mediator/child consultant time availability is likely to be more fluid than
trying to manage the diary of an additional professional
 The confidentiality/admissibility of the process is not questioned because the
FDRP is the child consultant and no referral is necessary
 The mediator/child consultant stays with the case throughout the process, and
therefore the feedback is available throughout the mediation.

© The International Centre for Children and Family Law Inc. This material cannot be copied in whole or in part without the express written permission
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