Child Inclusive Mediation

Edward Cooke is qualified to meet with children in the mediation process.

Child-Inclusive Mediation (or “Direct Child Consultation”) is a process where a mediator meets with a child. Its aim is to ensure the child’s voice is heard when issues relating them are being discussed by their parents.

It can be particularly important that a child’s voice is heard when each parent has a different view of what their child may be feeling or saying.

It is not uncommon for a child whose parents are separating to feel they have to take sides, or that they have to say certain things to one parent in order to please the other. This can lead to a child sending out conflicting messages to its parents.

Child Inclusive Mediation gives children the opportunity to talk about their situation with a neutral person.

At Edward Cooke Family Law, we offer Child Inclusive Mediation in a number of situations:

  • When we are mediating between a couple upon divorce or separation. A 2015 report commissioned by the Ministry of Justice on the Voice of the Child recommended that all children of 10 or over should have the opportunity to meet the mediator. In some circumstances, younger children may be seen.
  • If you are in mediation elsewhere but your mediator does not offer this service, we are able to offer the facility to meet your children.
  • Where there are no court proceedings but you feel that your child should be heard - for example in negotiation between solicitors or in the collaborative process.
  • Where there are court proceedings, child inclusive mediation can be used where you would like some indication of your child’s wishes and feelings without the involvement of CAFCASS. Court proceedings can be put in hold to enable mediation to take place, and for the children to be seen far more quickly than would normally be the case with CAFCASS.

Edward’s work in the field of Child Inclusive Mediation and his commitment to supporting this process was recognised when Edward won the Child Inclusive Mediator of the Year Award at the 2024 National Mediation Awards.

The Process of Child Inclusive Mediation

Before meeting with your child or children, we would meet with you first, as their parents, to discuss whether the process would be appropriate.

Assuming that both parents agree to the process moving forward, we will invite your child or children to meet with us. At the first meeting, we will discuss carefully how this invitation is to be extended and the mechanics of setting up the meeting with your child or children. You will sign an Agreement for Direct Consultation.

As our child mediator, Edward Cooke has an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and is always accompanied in the meeting by a female member of staff.

At the meeting with your child or children, Edward will provide a safe and open space for them to talk about how they are feeling. The fundamental rule in Child Inclusive Mediation is that the mediator only feeds back to the parents what the child or children agree should be reported. It is therefore a respectful and child-focused process. The central purpose of the process is to ensure the child’s voice has the opportunity to be heard.

After the meeting, Edward arranges to meet with the child or children’s parents to report back on the child’s wishes and feelings, and any key messages the child or children have asked to be fed back to the parents.

This feedback is given to help parents reach agreement over any issues relating to their children. Edward makes clear to the children in meeting with them that the final decision-making responsibility rests with the parents and that, whilst the children’s wishes will be taken into account, they do not have to make the decisions.

For further information about Child Inclusive Mediation, or to book an initial Mediation appointment, please contact Edward Cooke Family Law on 01243 769001 or via email.


Child Inclusive Mediation Referrals from Solicitors

We often receive referrals for child inclusive mediation from other solicitors who seek our expertise in this area.

We welcome new referrals for child inclusive and other forms of mediation. If you would like to refer a client for mediation, please complete our online Mediation Referral Form or contact one of our team on 01243 769001 or via email. Alternatively you can download our Mediation Referral Form PDF and email it to us once complete.  

Get in touch

We are here to help.

We offer meetings in our offices or online to suit you. You can get in touch in a number of ways: call our friendly team on 01243 769001, message us through our contact us page, or get started online, sharing some initial details on your matter via our secure online form. We look forward to hearing from you.

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