The Mediation Service is run by the Mediation Co-ordinator. They are available to provide guidance on the mediation process and can help you decide if mediation may be the best course of action for you. Everything you discuss with them will be confidential and, if you do decide you want to undertake mediation, they will talk you through the process.

For full details on the mediation process please read our Guidance Booklet.

 

 

There are five steps to mediation at the University of Kent:

1. Making Contact

Once you've made contact with the service you will be allocated a mediator to help you through the process. They will mediate in pairs and will be independent, impartial and not normally from within your own department.

The appointed mediator will be fully trained and accredited in mediation; further information on the mediator's role can be found here

The key to mediation is that it is a voluntary process; both sides must agree to enter into it; the mediator will ensure that this is the case, and indeed, that mediation is appropriate for the situation. If it is deemed that mediation is not appropriate at this stage, your mediator will confirm why not and may suggest possible alternative solutions for both parties to consider.

If mediation is a possible solution and both parties are willing to enter into the process, the mediator will explain the next steps and book suitable venues in which the mediation can take place.



2. Setting the Scene

Mediation usually takes around a day and consists of 2 stages - the individual meetings and the joint meeting.

The individual meetings allow both parties to set the scene; enabling the mediator to understand the situation, acknowledge individuals' feelings and to build trust and rapport with both parties.



3. Exploring the issue

The joint meeting allows for exploration of the issues in a facilitative environment designed to bring about collaboration between the two parties.



4. Building Agreement

As the meeting develops, the mediator will help the parties to generate and assess the viability of possible options for building a way forward.

At the options are discussed, and an area of agreement is reached.



5. Closure

When agreement is reached an agreement is drawn up, confirming both parties commitment to resolving the issue.

At the close of the meeting, the mediator will also collect any notes made during the meeting ready to be destroyed.

We do recognise that occasionally it may not be possible to reach agreement; in these instances the mediator will work with both parties to suggest other possible ways forward.