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Court of Protection Mediation

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National Dispute Resolution is the leading provider of mediation services in the UK. Having helped thousands of parties take control of their dispute and avoid the risk and costs of having the court impose expensive judgements against them.

Some of the areas we have covered;

  • Property and Affairs matters
  • Gifts
  • Statutory wills
  • Allegations of financial abuse
  • Settlement of personal injury awards
  • Deputyship issues
  • LPA’s and EPA’s 
  • Health and Welfare- Best Interest Decisions
  • Medical treatment
  • Welfare decisions relating to care, residence and contact
  • Trusts
  • Deprivation of liberty issues
  • Treatment funding

Call our friendly clerks on 01274 754000  or email clerks@NDR-UK.com to see how we can help

About our CoP/MCA mediation service

National Dispute Resolution is the leading provider of Court of Protection mediation; having been the sole provider to the Office of the Public Guardians Mediation Pilot, providing mediators to the Court of Protection Pilot Scheme and offering the only specialist training in CoP mediation practice.

Our mediators have considerable knowledge and understanding not just of the relevant legislation and case law but direct and first hand understanding of front line practice and caring for those who need additional support.

We have developed our skill base in delivering just this type of mediation and ways in which mediation can promote the best interests of service users involved in disputes before or that may be about to be before the Court of Protection.

We have considerable experience in in this field including financial, residence & contact and best interest disputes.

What is mediation?

Mediation is an effective method of resolving disputes between two or more parties where those parties can take control of the dispute and its outcome. The mediator, a neutral independent qualified professional, assists all the sides in negotiating a mutually agreeable settlement. 

Participation in mediation is voluntary and the process is private and confidential, it brings structure and importantly statistics show that 90% of mediations result in a settlement desired by each party to the dispute. 

Mediation takes place on a single day and we can arrange a mediation within 28 days of referral compared to the delays of months faced by court proceedings.

What will happen on the day?

The mediator will start the day by reminding each party of the ground rules, following which the process will be flexible responding to the needs of the parties present and the dispute in question. 

The mediator will spend time with the parties individually in their private rooms, known as caucus, gaining an understanding of their position and working with the parties to reach a resolution. This will include asking parties to look at the strengths and weaknesses of your position and to consider what a court and the other party is likely to say in response to your case. The mediator will work with the parties to consider possible solutions that work for your and will communicate offers to each party helping them understand what the offer means to them. 

The mediator may spend time directly with the lawyers, if they are present, to discuss points of legal dispute. This is again voluntary and will only take place where you agree. Remember that all meetings are confidential and no information will be shared with anyone, including the other party and the court without your express permission. 

Once an agreement is reached then the parties’ legal advisers will draw up an agreement reflecting the terms. If the parties are not represented then they will draw up an agreement between them to reflect the terms reached. 

Common Considerations

Do your mediators understand the MCA and CoP practice

In order to be eligible to sit on our Court of Protection mediation panel a mediator must meet the following minimum requirements;

  • A detailed understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, the Care Act, the Mental Health Acts and relevant case law.

 

  •  5 years of mental capacity or Court of Protection experience.

 

  • Have passed NDR’s Court of Protection Mediation Training

 

  • Up to date safeguarding training

 

  • An enhanced DBS check

 

  • Demonstrable skills in communication, compassion and suitability to conduct session that include or have the welfare of a vulnerable person at their centre. Proven by a series of interviews with our senior panel and referencing.

How will P’s views be taken into account?

NDR has spent considerable time on ensuring that all of our CoP mediations incorporate the views of the person at the centre of the dispute. 

In some cases it may be appropriate that P themself takes part in the session and we have made arrangements for this in a minority of cases that have included fluctuating capacity and cases where P is in direct dispute with their appointed deputy and has capacity in many areas but has been considered incapacitous for certain decisions.

In most cases we ensure that parties have considered P’s wishes and feelings and seek to include these by ensuring that relevant professionals and family members such as Statutory Advocates, RPR’s and carers can provide input to the session. 

Overall the experience of our mediators ensures that they are able to keep P the central focus of the mediation session and subsequent agreement

Will already settled matters be reopened?

In most Civil Mediations all areas are open for discussion and possible agreement. 

Unfortunately this is not necessarily the case in Court of Protection disputes due to their very nature. Often there will be matters that have already been determined by the courts or are otherwise settled. Whilst the impact of these is still highly relevant, there is little opportunity for them to be changed due to court judgements etc. 

As such NDR is aware of the need to set expectations on what can and cannot be agreed during the mediation session and will work with parties to consider what matters are required to be left to the court and which can be agreed between the parties.

Can mediation take place where there is suspected abuse?

Where there are current allegations of physical abuse then no mediation cannot proceed; the same applies where there are live criminal investigations of ANY ABUSE or criminal activity. 

Financial abuse and past allegations of other abuse is a more difficult subject. We have seen through experience that many cases of financial abuse is the result of serious misunderstandings of the law particulary as to the remit of the role of an attorney/deputy and often in regards to gifting. 

Likewise it is not uncommon for families to raise claims and counterclaims of abuse that once investigated; and found to be untrue are frequently resolved through mediation. 

In cases that involve any allegation of abuse, past or present we highly recommend that you talk to us regarding the suitability as we considerable experience on assessing whether these cases are suitable for ADR. 

Can the question of whether P has capacity be mediated?

No. 

Where there is disagreement or doubt as to whether P has capacity as to any decision this must be left to the Court to decide. 

It is not appropriate for this to be mediated.

Our Fees

  • Half Day Session
    £1195

    Includes tax, travel and expenses and is per session divided between parties

  • Full Day Session
    £1695

    Includes tax, travel and expenses and is per session divided between parties

Some of the areas we have covered;

  • Property and Affairs matters
  • Gifts
  • Statutory wills
  • Allegations of financial abuse
  • Settlement of personal injury awards
  • Deputyship issues
  • LPA’s and EPA’s 
  • Health and Welfare- Best Interest Decisions
  • Medical treatment
  • Welfare decisions relating to care, residence and contact
  • Trusts
  • Deprivation of liberty issues
  • Treatment funding

Testimonials

OPG ReferralAttorney Read More
The mediator has finally allowed us to put this matter to bed. Time will tell if it lasts, but its a very good start.
CoP MediationFamily Member Read More
I have spent so long feeling like I am fighting alone. I was suprised to see how much the other people in this case actually care about (P) too. People should be made to do this.
CoP MediationAttorney Read More
They don’t tell you everything you need to know when you sign up to this. This was the first time we could sit down and actually ask questions about what we should and shouldn’t do.
OPG ReferralDeputy Read More
I am just glad that this matter has been put to bed and want to thank you for the time and effort that you put into this. You went above and beyond.
CoP mediationSibling of P Read More
You achieved the impossible
CoP mediationFamily member Read More
We didn’t expect this to settle so it wasn’t a suprise when it didn’t.
That said I actually feel so much better that we tried all that we could and I am happy that we reached agreement on what we could. Overall whilst where not there yet, we are in a better position than we were and want to thank you for what you did.
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Our accreditation

National Dispute Resolution is accredited by the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) as a mediation provider in the UK.


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+44 1274 754 000  or  Clerks@NDR-UK.com

 

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