Focus medication what happens on the first visit

When making an appointment with the Focus Mediation Service, mediators will attempt to secure suitable premises as close to your home as possible. Mediation will never take place at your home.

Mediation requires that there are two members of staff to work with you/your family at all times.

Anything you discuss within mediation will be in confidence unless we believe that you or others are in danger of being harmed. This will be explained at the start of your first appointment.

On your first visit mediators will see everyone individually for about 20 minutes each. This helps the mediators to build up a picture of what the problems are and establish if mediation will be able to help.

The mediators will then then get everyone together as a group to discuss further appointments.

Regular appointments will last for approximately one hour and will normally take place on a weekly basis for about six weeks. Mediation may last for a longer or shorter period of time depending on the kind of disputes involved.