About Us

Establshed in 1983, Kent Family Mediation Service is a non-profit making, registered charity affliated to National Family Mediation.  We have a contract with the Legal Services Commission which allows us to provide Legally Aided Mediation to qualifying clients.

As a charity, we are governed by a Board of Trustees, of which there are currently 7 members.

We have 8 experienced mediators and 1 trainee.  All our experienced mediators are members of the UK College of Mediators.  We also have 5 administration staff who deal the day-to-day running of our organisation. Details of our mediators are below.

We aim to operate in partnership with clients and operate an equal opportunities policy and complaints procedure for service users.  In order to continually improve the service, we value client feedback and will send a questionnaire after the completion of mediation.  The information provided will be used for the benefit of future service users.

JOAN BISHOP

Joan is the PPC at Kent FMS, having qualified as an ‘All Issues’ mediator with NFM in 2002, where she supervises the practice of 6 mediators and a trainee mediator.  She is also retained as a consultant by South East London Family Mediation Bureau.
In 2007 Joan received an MSc in Mediation Studies and Conflict Resolution from the Institute of Family Therapy.
Joan has worked in the ‘for profit’ sector with Resolutions Mediation.  Prior to becoming a Family Mediator she was a secondary school teacher, a business advisor to a health service provider and a founder and director of a retail company.  She has served for 8 years as a member of various Fostering Panels and was vice-Chair of the Banya Fostering Agency panel in Herne Hill.  She is also a magistrate.

Since becoming PPC at KFMS, she has encouraged a closer working relationship with lawyers.  During this period the Service has worked with Resolution and provides Parenting After Parting workshops on their behalf.  Last year the service also became a provider for SPIPs.

IAN GARNER

Ian Garner has a background as a specialist family solicitor since 1974. He was a partner in private practice until 1999. He has now retired from legal practice in order to centre on his mediation practice.

In 1992 he trained as a family mediator with the Family Mediators Association. He was a member of the FMA Board of Management from 1996 to 1998. He was trained in direct consultation with children in 2004 and practices as a mediator and supervisor in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Sittingbourne.

BRIAN SHERWOOD

BA Hons English, Adv Dip Ed, RSA Cert in Counselling Skills in Education
Brian was a Head Teacher for 11 years and has worked as an advocate for a local advocacy service for people experiencing mental health difficulties.  He has been a mediator since 2000 and has trained and presents our Children First, Parenting After Parting and PIPs Workshops.

KATE HILLS

Kate is one of our longest serving mediators.  She has a Postgraduate Dipolma in Social Studies and has in the past worked for the Probation Service.  She completed her mediator training in 1999 and is experienced in Child only, Property & Finance and All Issued Mediation.

CAROL O’MEARA

Carol has been a family mediator for Kent Family Mediation since 1994 and is trained in Direct Consultation with children.  She is a registered nurse and certified counsellor.  She also currently works for the Social Services Department as a social worker and recently became a best interest assessor under the Mental Capacity Act.  She has been presenting PIPs during the current year.

SIMON MILLARD

Memb FMC, Adv Dip Couns, Memb BACP, Memb BAAM
 
Simon has been a mediator since 2005, has trained and co-presents the Children First Parenting and Resolution Parenting After Parting Workshops. He also works as a school counsellor.
He is the founder of Kent Anger Management and Together in Communication CiC.  He is also a therapist, coach and facilitator and offers training in schools and organisations, providing workshops, seminars and presentations.   He has been presenting Parenting After Parting workshops for the past 2 years and PIPs for the current year.

PAULA MORVAN

Paula is a member of UK College of Mediators and National Family Mediation (NFM).  She has an Advanced Diploma in Counselling.  Paula is also accredited by the LSC to consult directly with children.
Paula has been a mediator since 2003 and worked as a school counsellor for the past 8 years.  She is a consultant for Cafcass and undertakes parent coaching and counselling.   She has trained and is a presenter for our Children First, Parenting After Parting and PIPs Workshops.  

MARK BOHAN

Mark is a member of both NFM and UK College of Mediators and has been mediating on Child Only issues since 1999 and All Issues since 2003.  He is experienced in ‘in court’ mediation in association with Cafcass and is one of our presenters for the Parenting Information Programme workshops.