News

Bromford mediation team targets neighbour disputes

3rd of June 2010

12 officers at the Bromford Group have achieved Mediation Practitioners Certificates accredited by the Open College Network and the Law Society.

The development is the latest measure in the Group’s clampdown on anti-social behaviour which is helping communities deal with troublesome neighbours.

HomeZone Living's community safety manager Jane Bax, said: "A total of 12 employees across the Bromford Group received training from Mike Talbot of UK Mediation and now have accredited certificates allowing them to mediate in suitable cases. However, they will not mediate in their own cases so as to ensure complete impartiality.

"The training involved learning how to assist people in a dispute, to explore and understand the differences they have and ultimately come to an agreement in settling those differences. The advantages in using mediation to resolve disputes are speed, cost savings, maintaining better relationships and achieving a win/win situation for both parties.

"It is envisaged that we will implement mediation at an earlier level to resolve neighbour disputes before situations have the opportunity to spiral out of control. We will be able to do this because we will not be constrained by cost or having to wait for an external service to be able to assist."