What happens in mediation and conciliation?

• There is usually an initial individual appointment for each parent to enable the mediator/conciliator to ensure the process is suitable for their dispute, and to allow each parent to discuss his/her experience of the dispute, and the issues and concerns to be resolved
• Joint appointments, which are usually face to face, but sometimes occur via the telephone or in separate rooms in the same venue (shuttle). These sessions allow:
  • the issues/concerns to be identified, clarified and discussed
  • each parent to have a say and express his/her opinion
  • ideas/options for resolution of the issues/concerns to be identified, developed and negotiated
  • agreements to be reached