Volunteer Chair - Family Mediation Council

What will you be doing?

The FMC wishes to appoint a Chair to lead and steer the FMC in the formulation of the next stage of its development and strategy, which will build upon the successful work of recent years and continue to promote family mediation. The role is not remunerated although reasonable travel to all meetings on FMC related business will be reimbursed. It is anticipated that the role of the Chair will involve a time commitment of approximately three days per month with the possibility of one to two extra days of month being desirable at busy times.  FMC board meetings take place once every quarter; other meetings include an annual FMC/FMSB joint meeting in London and occasional meetings with Ministry of Justice officials and other government figures. Meetings are online or in London. Much of the work can be carried out remotely. The board will be supported by an Executive Officer and a company which carries out the FMC’s administration.  It is anticipated that the appointments will be for a period of 4 years in accordance with the rules laid down in the Articles of Association. The role of the Chair is to: - lead the FMC by developing and monitoring its strategy, and by steering the board in identifying the key governance decisions to be made, ensuring well-founded decision making, managing potential conflicts of interest to ensure that probity is maintained and there is appropriate transparency; - chair meetings of the FMC’s board, ensuring the board discusses and agrees the purpose and core values of the organisation and makes decisions that advance the purpose of the organisation; - Chair the AGM and together with the Chair of the FMSB, the annual FMC/FMSB meeting; - represent the FMC to, and maintain good relationships with, the family mediation community, government, other relevant organisations and the public; - work closely with and manage the interrelationship between the FMC’s Executive Officer, the FMSB and particularly its chair, and FMC members to create productive relationships which will enable the work of the organisation to be delivered; - assist the FMC to work within its limited financial and staff resources, and to help it increase those resources.

What are we looking for?

It is likely that the Chair will have the following experience, skills and attributes:

experience of providing leadership in complex situations experience of chairing a board and managing differing interests experience of working for a representative organisation an understanding of regulation the ability to focus on both outward looking tasks such as representation and inward-looking issues such as management excellent verbal and written communication skills the diplomacy and tact to work constructively and collaboratively with others the capacity to see the bigger picture, to clarify issues and to work through problems enthusiasm, energy and commitment to the role.

The FMC values diversity. Mediation participants come from all walks of life, and we think it is important that our directors come from a wide variety of backgrounds to be able to have the broadest understanding possible of mediation participants’ needs as well as to enable us to bring different experiences to the board table. If you believe you have some of the desired skills and experience set out above, please do contact us.

What difference will you make?

By increasing the numbers of families attending family mediation, you will reduce parental conflict which brings numerous benefits to children, not just in childhood but throughout their lives.  Professor Gordon Harold's research in to Inter-Parental Conflict and Family Separation shows that 'high levels of conflict between parents are shown to have many poor outcomes for children. These include anxiety and depression, academic failure, substance abuse, conduct problems, criminality, peer problems and adversely affected brain development. Patterns of conflict can even be passed on to the next generation.'  Family mediation reduces parental conflict by encouraging parents to focus on the needs of children, hearing directly from the child where appropriate, and improving communications between parents.  Family mediation also helps to reduce stress when separating couples need to resolve financial issues, and can be quicker, less acrimonious and cheaper than being represented in court.   By leading the FMC to achieve its vision for every separated family to have access to regulated family mediation, you will have an ongoing positive impact on the lives of families.