Steele Raymond strengthens family mediation services

Lindsay Halliwell, Partner in our Family team, has strengthened the firm’s family mediation services, becoming the second member of the team to offer Child Inclusive Mediation.

Already a Family Mediator since 2011, becoming Accredited in 2016, Lindsay has recently gained an additional accreditation enabling her to lead Child Inclusive Mediation sessions.

Child Inclusive Mediation offers children a voice and an important opportunity to share their worries and thoughts about how life looks for them from their own perspective without the pressure of feeling responsible for making decisions, or that they have to take sides.

Lindsay explains: “When parents separate, their first concern is almost always to consider the needs and feelings of their children. Communication issues between parents can naturally impact children too. Many children like to be involved in the mediation process because they will often have a view about arrangements that are being decided for them by their parents, and that  their views should be considered.

“Child Inclusive Mediation can help parents listen to their children, and to each other, in a different way and to make good decisions for all that have the children’s best interests at heart.”

With the family courts at capacity – and an increasing backlog– separating parents are being encouraged to use mediation to try to reach an agreement between themselves when dealing with arrangements for their children and financial affairs.

“We see first-hand the incredible difference that mediation can make,” continues Lindsay, “As mediators, we will never ask children to make decisions, but their input can be very valuable when it comes to decision-making by their parents within the mediation process.”

The government is continuing to support mediation with the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, providing up to £500 towards the cost of mediation services, to try to avoid the need for going to court. Steele Raymond is authorised by the Family Mediation Council and is taking part in the voucher scheme. Lindsay and her fellow accredited family lawyer and mediator, specialising in Child Inclusive Mediation, Michelle Bettell, are both able to offer sessions to families and children.

With over 20 years’ experience as a Family lawyer, Lindsay joined Steele Raymond in 2014 as a Solicitor and Mediator. She became a Partner in the firm in 2021.  Lindsay is passionate about family mediation, which helps separating couples to reach their own decisions without handing over the decision-making to a judge, saving costs financially and emotionally.

Our five-strong Family team works with clients from across the south of England, providing advice and guidance on all aspects of Family Law.