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So, the Government has announced its "roadmap" out of lockdown.
Where does that leave mediation? How quickly will we be back to normal?
Sadly, not any time soon. First, the current rule is that if it can be done remotely, online, it should be. And that rule isn't going to be lifted before 21 June 2021, at the earliest. So long as that's the rule, that's really all there is to say. Our experience during the pandemic clearly demonstrates that mediation can be done online, with excellent settlement rates (you can check out our Senior Mediator's online mediation record during the pandemic here: the mediations with an * were online).
Infact, there are good reasons apart from govermnet regulations why our work is best done online during the pandemic, and perhaps afterwards too. Have a look at our Senior Mediator, Martin Plowman's thoughts on why he's come to prefer online mediation here.
In the mean time, until the rules are actually relaxed which will be 21 June 2021 at the earliest, we're accepting bookings (whether the date is before or after 21 June 2021) on the basis that the mediation will be online.
When the rules are relaxed, we'll consider carefully whether, in the light of the situation at that time, and the guidelines and regulations then applying to mediation, whether it's safe and appropriate to return to online mediation. Our first priority will of course remain the health of our mediators and clients. Mediation, surprisingly, is a high risk activity in terms of the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus (there's not much you could do that would involve spending eight to ten hours, indoors, in close face-to-face contact with someone you don't know!) and so it's reasonable to assume that even when office work resumes, mediation, as one of the highest risk activites, may not be in the first wave to return, and that the advantages of mediating online may continue to apply for a good while yet, and perhaps indefinitely. But once it's safe and appropriate to do so, we'll be offering face-to-face again, in conjunction with our Coronavirus Mediation Protocol where necessary.
