Anyone can make an enquiry, preferably this is made by email with a short or full explanation of the dispute.

A member of our staff   will contact the  enquirer and arrange an  appointment  for them to speak to a mediator. 

After the initial private meeting with the enquirer and gaining their consent, we will contact the other party, known as party two to discuss their ideas for solution's to the dispute.

We encourage both parties to communicate at this stage through our service.  The parties at this point may agree to split the costs.

With our help each party prepares a summary of their grievances and more importantly the solutions they feel would be most useful to  achieve a mutually acceptable agreement

If appropriate the parties and the mediator will agree to set a date and venue for a joint mediation session.  

The parties can agree to be in the same room as each other  or in different rooms of the same venue, also known as  "shuttle mediation" .   in some special cases a meeting can be conducted via web cam.

An "all party" joint meeting would be in a neutral venue  in a convenient location for all a parties to attend.   These meetings would normally be at the Calm Talk offices and meeting rooms at Centrix House in Newton Le Willows, however other meeting places can be hired.

The parties agree to a set of ground rules relating to conduct before the joint mediation session starts.  Both parties agree to read out their opening statements or ask the mediator to read it out for them at the beginning of the meeting.   The mediator will make sure that both parties have equal time to be listened to and will  focus the parties to find solutions and agreement points.

If a resolution is reached this can be drafted into a short form agreement, which can be made binding by a solicitor / court at a later date if necessary or appropriate.