Strategy and Plan for the Provision of Family Mediation Services 2021- 2023
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Strategy and Plan for the Provision of Family Mediation Services 2021- 2023
Foreword by the
Chairperson and Mr Philip O’Leary Mr John McDaid
Chief Executive Chairperson Chief Executive
This Strategy and Plan for the provision of family mediation services for the
period 2021 – 2023 is aligned with our overall Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023.
It draws on the high level objectives in that Statement of Strategy as a means of
setting the direction for the provision of family mediation services for the next
three years. This Strategy and Plan will be fundamental in bringing about an
efficient and effective mediation service for the end user.
In developing this Strategy and Plan a considered We hope that the Strategy and Plan objectives will ensure
consultation process was undertaken which was the following for users of our service:
fundamental to the identification of strategic
Users will meet persons trained in information giving
objectives, plans and key performance indicators
on mediation and will be given relevant and timely
for the next three years. The consultation process
information with regard to the options available to
commenced with a situational analysis of family
resolve their dispute.
mediation services and identified a number of
strategic issues to be considered. A number of Users will be facilitated with a speedier service in
consultation meetings were held which allowed terms of waiting times to access the service and the
interested colleagues across the organisation to average time taken to mediate a dispute to resolution.
offer views on the strategic direction of the service. Users who are not within easy reach of our offices
Those views, along with potential legislative will be offered the service via technological solutions.
changes, current and anticipated future policy and Users who are obtaining legal services from the
the Board’s overall Statement of Strategy 2021 - Board will be given access to family mediation
2023 have informed this document. Our obligations services without having to wait.
regarding Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and
Business cases will be made to the Department of
Equality Commission Act 2014 are stated in our
Justice expand in line with demand for the service as
Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023 and mirrored in
an effective option to resolve family disputes.
this document.
Mr Philip O’Leary Mr John McDaid
Chairperson Chief Executive
Family Mediation
Better for you.
Better for your children.
Better for the future.Purpose
We are an independent statutory
body responsible for the provision
of civil legal aid and advice, family
Mission
mediation and vulnerable witness
related services and for the
administration of a number of ad
hoc legal aid schemes. We are a key Our Mission is to deliver timely, effective,
strategic partner and a civil agency inclusive and just resolution of family
of the Department of Justice. and civil disputes to those most in need of
our assistance, through high quality legal
representation and advice and / or mediation
and to manage other aspects of legal aid which
have been entrusted to us.
Vision
We will be instrumental in ensuring access to
justice to those most in need, through a highly
motivated and trained workforce, external
providers and working with stakeholders
across the justice framework and beyond.
Respect
We respect, treat equally
and with dignity, the
diverse users of our
services and our
Child centred colleagues both
We recognise that children within the Board Client centred
are at the heart of many and across the We put the client, access
of the disputes we seek justice sector. to justice, and problem
to resolve and we will solving at the centre of
seek to ensure those to our decision making.
whom we provide services
understand this
approach.
Integrity Openness
We are at all times
We continue to be open
Values
honest and accountable.
in the manner in which
We strive to ensure
we reach decisions and
fairness. We continue to
the client is at the
ensure value for money in
centre of our
the manner we offer
decision making.
our services.
Influence
We seek to maximise
our influence in the area Collaboration
of access to justice, We work in partnership
and consultation with
ensuring we highlight
when necessary where
Learning stakeholders across the
Recognising that justice system to seek the
our statutory knowledge and agility are
framework may be achievement of shared
key to the organisation’s objectives.
denying those in need. future, we foster a culture
of learning (including
specialist learning),
development, innovation
and problem
solving.Internal Environment
Our People, Resources & Culture
Applicable Statement Provision of family mediation services Key Performance Indicators
of Strategy 2021 - 2023 strategy & plan objectives By 2023
Objectives
We will develop and We will have a prioritised service delivery A documented prioritised service delivery
align our resources model which will allow for priority to be given model which offers the most effective legal
and capabilities to persons receiving legal services from the and mediation service for the client.
with demand on our organisation with a view to providing a unified At the co-located offices, any necessary
services to ensure an service for the client. decisions are made on local line management
efficient and effective structures that are necessary to ensure an
service for the client. efficient and effective service.
Clerical staff in the offices trained in
information giving about mediation, key legal
issues and relevant services.
We will anticipate aligning our internal A documented plan outlining the requirements
resources, to the extent required, with the on the service in the light of the potential
potential enactment of a Family Court Bill enactment of a Family Courts Bill and other
and in doing so have regard to the Board’s changes to the family justice system.
experience to date of having mediators present No further court presences developed other
in the court environs. than in locations where more centralised
In terms of developing our presence in further family courts may be situated in the future.
court environments we will only do so if the
location is likely to be a site for one of the
more centralised family courts that the Courts
Service and the Family Justice Oversight
Committee is contemplating.
We will reduce the time from when a client A reduction in the average number of days
first applies for mediation to mediation from when a client agrees to mediation to the
completion. first session and when a final agreement is
made in comparison to the previous year/three
year average.
We will identify issues that are affecting Waiting times in line with Board targets.
throughput of cases and implement a range of Diary measurement of 3 cases per day. A
procedures to deal with them. We will reduce decrease in the number of mediator sessions
the number of slots for sessions a mediator per case in comparison with at least one year
has available which go unused. in comparison to the previous three year
average.
A reduction in the proportion of session slots
which go unfilled in comparison to the previous
year/previous three years/overall average.
We will provide value for money in delivering A decrease in the total direct cost per case in
the mediation service. comparison to the previous year/three year
average.
We will recruit and train new mediators each Five new mediators trained each year.
year and in doing so we will seek to have
regard to having a more diverse workforce of
mediators.Applicable Statement Provision of family mediation services Key Performance Indicators
of Strategy 2021 - 2023 strategy & plan objectives By 2023
Objectives
(continued) We will work to improve the key performance Clear and documented performance indicators
indicators for family mediation offices and in place with an active monitoring system.
the provision of family mediation services
generally and also the means by which those
indicators are monitored.
We will ensure Communication policy and procedures Communication Policy and Procedures posted
our staff are seen, implemented. on iLAB and implementation of same reviewed
engaged and listened Staff working in the mediation area will meet quarterly.
to. We will build on at least twice yearly with senior management Minutes of twice yearly meetings will be
the communication including the Director of Family Mediation and posted on iLAB.
initiatives employed the Director of Human Resources. At least one
during the Covid-19 of these meetings will be a virtual meeting.
pandemic and continue The meetings will be agenda based and
this approach into the minuted.
future.
We will explore and We will utilise technology as a means of Line Manager Case Consultations, Reflective
implement solutions ensuring the vast majority of: Practice Group meetings and most learning
as regards how > line manager case consultations events being conducted via technological
technology can solutions.
> reflective practice groups
provide access to and
> other learning and development events
assist with learning and
development take place using video conferencing and thus,
increase the availability of mediators to offer
dispute resolution consultations.
We will foster an We will implement a Continuing Professional A CPD requirement in place. Specific training
environment focused Development requirement for Board plans in place for staff working in this area.
on staff development, mediators. The learning programme for
learning and innovation both mediators and support staff will be
in the delivery of organisation led while at the same time having
services in response regard to individual training needs.
to an ever-changing
legal and social
environment.
We will commence an Steps will be taken to improve the diversity A more diverse workforce in terms of gender,
on-going assessment of our mediation workforce having regard to ethnicity and age.
of our workforce among other things, gender, ethnicity and age.
with a view to the
organisation being
reflective of the
broader community in
terms of gender, race,
and diversity.Operating Environment
The Justice framework
Applicable Statement Provision of family mediation services Key Performance Indicators
of Strategy 2021 - 2023 strategy & plan objectives By 2023
Objectives
We will work with We will undertake social marketing in Social Marketing will be evident in appropriate
our stakeholders to appropriate places to ensure all applicants and places – internally and with the cooperation of
improve the level potential applicants are exposed to the right external stakeholders.
of awareness of the information in terms of resolving their dispute.
Board’s services and
also to address how We will engage with relevant stakeholders who Documented engagements with stakeholders.
we can meet the may act as ‘gateways’ to the Board’s services
needs of persons and/ with a view to improving awareness of our
or communities who services among those who can benefit from
may be marginalised mediation, particularly those who may not be
or in danger of able to afford private mediation.
marginalisation.
We will seek to put We will offer mediation via technology to those Policy implemented regarding offering
in place solutions to not within easy reach of our services when it is mediation via technology. Video enabled
facilitate those that appropriate to do so. We will take our learning mediations taking place.
are not within easy from the initiatives employed during the
reach of our offices. Covid-19 pandemic in drafting a policy.
Those solutions
will have regard to
the availability of
information on our
services and access to
those services and to
how technology can
assist.
We will facilitate a We will work with law centres to ensure Prioritisation policy in place and being
timely consultation applicants who satisfy the financial eligibility implemented.
following receipt of criteria set out in the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 Monitoring system in place which will
an application for and who are referred for family mediation document proof, or otherwise, that more
services. We will services are afforded a priority service over applicants to the Board are opting for
assess and implement those who may be in a position to pay privately alternative dispute resolution rather than
measures including for family mediation services. litigation.
empowering staff to
assist in meeting this We will train administrative staff to enable Training programme for administrative staff
target. them to give meaningful information to established and rolled out.
applicants and clients regarding the mediation
service.
In accordance with the statutory Board’s Options presented to the Board in terms of
decision of September 2018, we will again introducing the requirement to pay for the
examine the option of mediation services service.
remaining universally accessible but on the
basis that clients, or certain clients, make a
financial contribution.
We will adopt and apply a consistent policy A clear policy in relation to hearing the views
in relation to hearing the views of the child of the child in mediation in place.
in mediation having regard to the age and
maturity of the child.Applicable Statement Provision of family mediation services Key Performance Indicators
of Strategy 2021 - 2023 strategy & plan objectives By 2023
Objectives
We will monitor, We will monitor legislative changes which Documented reflection on the merits or
anticipate and respond require us and / or allow us to expand our otherwise of making a case to the Minister to
to legislative changes. services and meet the needs to those who approve a Scheme on foot of section 23 of the
We will seek to involve require a dispute resolution mechanism. In Mediation Act 2017.
ourselves at the earliest particular we will have careful regard to the
opportunity when possibility of making a case to the Minister to
relevant legislation establish a scheme of information sessions in
is being drafted and certain family law matters on foot of section 23
offer observation from of the Mediation Act 2017.
the perspective of
Business cases submitted to the Department
those in need of our
of Justice seeking the resources to expand the
services and from the
service into new areas when appropriate.
perspective of our
operating environment. We will bring the pilot of the provision of An evaluation of our involvement in child
family mediation in child abduction cases to abduction cases undertaken with a consequent
an end and evaluate the pilot. We will make business case to the Department of Justice if
a submission to the Department of Justice deemed appropriate.
should the evaluation support a submission for
resources.
We will continue to We will examine and recommend appropriate Support offered when required to the Irish
develop our research research topics, either internally or in Research Council Enterprise Partnership
function, liaising conjunction with third level institutions and research currently being undertaken into the
with service users, other relevant stakeholders, in the area of client journey.
third level institutions family mediation to further our collective
and other relevant knowledge.
stakeholders, to
Research on the availability of information on
further our collective
mediation in the wider justice framework will
knowledge and ensure
be completed, the outcome of which will be
our policy decisions
used to inform policy.
are evidence based
to the greatest extent We will improve the level and quality of the Gaps in data will be identified and steps taken
possible. management information available to the to fill those gaps.
Board to allow greater statistical analysis and Ready availability of necessary management
to better inform decision making. information and statistics.
We will evaluate to a much greater extent, Evaluation of co-location model completed.
the impact for the client of the co-location of Individual evaluation of any further
the law centre and the family mediation office opportunity.
where co-locations have been established.
Pending that more comprehensive evaluation,
we will carefully evaluate any co-location
opportunity from a value for money
perspective.Family Mediation Better for you. Better for your children. Better for the future.
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