Volunteer Independent Member Family Mediation Standards Board

What will you be doing?

The FMSB is responsible strategically to the FMC for the operation of the professional standards and self-regulatory framework for family mediation in England and Wales. This is a non-statutory professional framework that mediators are nevertheless required to comply with if they wish to undertake publicly funded work or sign official documentation relating to mediation information and assessment meetings (MIAMs).    The primary functions of the FMSB are to do the following, in accordance with the professional standards and self-regulation framework:

Maintain, keep under review and develop the professional standards for family mediation. Maintain a publicly accessible register of trained and qualified family mediators, and of Professional Practice Consultants Consider initial training courses for approval, consider any appeals relating to courses that are not approved, and monitor the ongoing quality of courses. Oversee the accreditation process that leads to qualified (FMCA) status. Consider and make decisions on complaints and disciplinary matters that have been escalated from FMC member organisations, and where necessary investigate potential shortcomings in member organisations’ procedures. Monitor any other member organisation functions that have a direct bearing on the quality of the professional standards and self-regulation framework. Maintain management information to enable the Board of the FMC to carry out its responsibilities effectively and to provide statistics relating to the professional standards and self-regulation framework. Keep under review the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Board’s operations.

Members are supported in these functions by the FMC’s and FMSB’s Executive Officer and a provider of administration services. It is anticipated that the work will involve a time commitment of two or three days per month. This time will be spent in FMSB meetings (c. three meetings a year in London, and two online), with remaining time spend in working group meeting or working on projects that you take on. The role is not remunerated although reasonable travel expenses to meetings on FMC related business will be reimbursed. Subject to an initial review after six months, it is anticipated that the appointment will be for a period of three or four years, with the potential for re-appointment.

What are we looking for?

Successful candidates will have:

An understanding of the role of family mediation in family justice Enthusiasm for the development of the profession through promoting high standards of conduct and practice Commitment to the protection of the public through professional self-regulation and familiarity with the operation of standards and regulation in a professional setting Experience of working well in a team and making decisions in a demanding environment by:

engaging in constructive but challenging debate contributing to collective decision-making giving direction to an enterprise

Ability to prepare materials and reports in isolation if necessary, to feed into the Board and/or a committee Experience of applying high standards of integrity and probity Experience or understanding of the constraints of running a small organisation with limited resources and a significant reliance on voluntary effort Ability not only to set and oversee the FMSB’s strategic direction but also to pay appropriate attention to operational implementation of the FMSB’s terms of reference working with the Executive Officer Capability to grasp and analyse complex issues, and creativity to propose practical solutions Strong verbal and written communication skills Sensitivity and tact to work constructively with colleagues in the FMSB and the FMC and with the wider family mediation community Time and energy to contribute to the role

Candidates may also have:

Experience of developing professional standards/programmes of learning for professionals; An understanding how to respond to changing demands and deliver innovative solutions to grow a profession; Commissioning/designing/developing IT infrastructure; Working with different stakeholders; or Acting as an independent person to making evidence based decisions (for example as a judge or complaints officer).

What difference will you make?

Volunteers will play a key role in ensuring that there are well qualified family mediators who meet agreed standards available to provide professional support to families when they separate, meaning that those families receive help to resolve issues arising out of separation outside of court, for the benefit of the children and families involved.