UK Mediation | The Interpersonal Mediation Practitioner's Certificate | In-House Mediator Qualification

Train your groups and teams with our in-house mediation qualification.

Train your delegates as mediators with the five-day Interpersonal Mediation Practitioner’s Certificate (IMPC), the market-leading 40-hour professional mediator qualification.

One reason for the popularity of the course is that all of our trainers are themselves practising mediators, who pass on their mediation skills through a number of exercises, lectures, group discussions, lively dispute simulations and real case studies. We emphasise learning-by-doing in order to build up your delegates’ competence and confidence as mediators.

Our qualification sits at Level 4 on Ofqual’s ‘Register of Regulated Qualifications’, alongside A Levels and Degrees, and is the highest level of mediator training currently available. The course is also formally recognised as a ‘Certified Mediator Training Program’ by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), meaning that your qualification is recognised worldwide and not just in the UK.

This course is delivered in-house for groups of 6 to 12 delegates within an organisation. If you are an individual looking for similar training, we would recommend the open-access version of our mediator qualification course.

About the course

The aim of this course is to get you to the point of being confident and competent to practise all types of interpersonal mediation, and to get you to the point of Accredited Mediator status.

At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to:

Understand the underpinning principles of interpersonal mediation
How mediation compares with other forms of dispute resolution. Why and how mediation works: putting people and their needs at the heart of the process.
Understand how people's behaviours can impact upon conflict
What makes people behave the way they do when they are in conflict and how this will influence what we do as mediators. Getting people’s buy-in.
Understand the structure of the mediation process
The steps and stages of our structured mediation model, and the purpose and structure of each stage. What can go wrong and dealing with the unexpected.
Understand the particular role of the mediator
The mediator’s role, how this differs from other roles, and the importance of impartiality and confidentiality. Where mediation fits in with other processes.
Understand the skills required for effective mediation
You will mediate simulated cases alongside fellow learners and receive detailed feedback. Having a go at one of our specially-chosen case examples.
Reflect upon your practice and consider your own development
Your strengths and areas for improvement as mediators, and how you will specifically apply your new skills and knowledge in the future.

The Interpersonal Mediation Practitioner's Certificate covers everything you need to know to become a professional mediator.

This includes:

The psychology of conflict
What makes people behave the way they do when in conflict and how this will influence what we do as mediators.
The principles of mediation
How mediation compares with other ways of resolving disputes and how to choose what sorts of situations should be mediated. How and why mediation works.
Managing the mediation process
The steps and stages of our structured seven-stage mediation model and the purpose of each stage. Dealing with resistance, disruption, and unexpected obstacles during the mediation sessions.
Key mediation skills
Practising on simulated cases and receiving live feedback from your tutor. Learning key skills such as reframing, reflection, and active listening.
Diversity competence
Acknowledging that diversity of some sort exists among all participants and that only through acknowledgement can we achieve the best kind of resolution
Taking your practice forward
Your strengths and areas for improvement, and factoring these into a personal development plan. Conforming to best practice and adhering to UK Mediation’s Code of Conduct.

Our trainers have a wealth of practical mediation experience and are able to adapt the course content to the make-up of the particular group.

All of our courses are live interactive events run by a practising mediator who is an expert in the field.

We use a range of methods to deliver the course, including:

Custom-made video clips
Lecture and live discussion
Group exercises
Practice sessions with simulated case material
Real-life case studies

The course is delivered face-to-face at your location, or in a blended format, where we can use custom-made video material, run small-group exercises, and take part in some case simulations.

What our learners say

"My experience of training with UK Mediation has been exceptional. I found the training booklet to be filled with useful resources, and we got the opportunity to watch training videos and the chance to practise mediation skills in role plays. The trainer was so encouraging and really supported us throughout the whole process."

Ellie Sexton Centrepoint

"A really good training course with a great trainer who made me feel at ease and provided support and feedback throughout the course. The video clips were really helpful too."

Tania Hall Barnardo's

"The trainer was amazing and oozed confidence - they were happy to answer any questions and really took the time to break things down for us. I have learned so much that I can use in my personal life as well as my work."

Philippa Nancoo Depaul UK

"An excellent course which provided opportunities for review of practice, reflection, and identifying improvements for our own service."

Alison Capstick Digartref

"The course was very insightful and very well planned out. Everyone was encouraged to participate and I have learned how to adapt mediation to different cases."

Elizabeth Omileke CAYSH

"This is one of the best training sessions I have been on in a long time. The trainer was excellent! The role playing was great for ensuring learning outcomes, the material was brilliant, and the overall facilitation was faultless!"

Stephanie Hanson Islington Council

"An amazing course! The trainer was excellent and everything was useful. It was a brilliant learning curve and it was good to learn re-phrasing: putting things in a different perspective."

Angela Unwin Newark and Sherwood District Council

"A fab experience from start to finish! The trainer was knowledgeable, funny, kind, and welcoming. The role play was incredibly useful and I will employ all I've learnt."

Debra Savage City of Lincoln Council

"The training has renewed my understanding of mediation and the different elements to it. Everything was explained fully and concisely, which made the activities easier to get in to. The trainer also offered praise and constructive feedback, which was really balanced and helpful."

Lucie Carroll Hull City Council

"The training was very comprehensive, and the discussions, methods, and practice sessions were excellent. The trainer gave space to all the participants to practise, and gave positive and constructive feedback when needed."

Cristina Marquez Tower Hamlets Council

"I have really enjoyed the course. I felt supported and informed throughout, and I have learnt so much during the course."

Helen Scott Derby City Council

"Excellent! Five stars throughout! The trainer was knowledgeable, supportive, and encouraging throughout, and the training videos were extremely useful to give a basis on how it's done. Top class!"

John Williams Places for People

"The most enjoyable and informative course I have done. Role play no longer bothers me when done it the way it was done here. Truly an excellent course and trainer."

Karen Medina Greatwell Homes

"An excellent course. The best training course I have recently been on! I will certainly recommend to other professionals."

Fran Rhodes Homechoice Lincs

"Fantastically engaging and thoroughly supportive, with challenging and constructive feedback! I am leaving confident and excited to embed the learning!"

Natasha Jenkin L&Q Group

"The trainer was extremely supportive throughout. The methods of training were measured and at a good pace for all to understand. We were given the opportunity to summarise and reflect on each stage and, overall, it was an excellent week."

Wendy Pickering Connexus

"The training exceeded my expectations and our trainer was absolutely fantastic! The course content was relevant to our field, and we were given the opportunity to practice our skills in a safe and productive way. The trainer also made time for us to start thinking about how we will apply these new skills to our university context."

Marco Venturi University of Greenwich

"This has been a transformational week! The trainer was an amazing teacher, and was incredibly kind and patient. I feel I have learnt more than I expected and it will transform how I lead my team going forward. Thank you!"

Susi Wilkinson London College of Communication

"The trainer was the perfect balance of encouraging and constructively critical, and their knowledge was incredible. The feedback was always delivered with compassion and expert insight. Thank you."

Linda Smith Brunel University

"I felt that the course was excellent. The trainer was excellent in their approach, teaching, and guidance. I feel I have learned a lot and really developed my skills moving forward."

Chris Howard University of Derby

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Course FAQs

We understand that you may have some queries about the course’s content, the resulting qualification, or about how the training is delivered. We’ve gathered together some of the most Frequently Asked Questions and have answered them below.

Please get in touch if you have any questions we might have missed and one of our experts will be more than happy to help. You can contact our team here.

Is the course affiliated with a professional body?

The course is formally recognised as a Certified Mediator Training Program (CMTP) by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), an organisation that aligns closely with our aims and professional ethos.

For our learners, this means that they have the choice to become ‘IMI Qualified Mediators’ upon successful completion of their training. Their qualification is therefore recognised globally and not just in the UK.

Why can't this course be done entirely online?

First, you need the live observation and feedback from the tutor – a practising mediator – in order to develop your skills to the required level. Secondly, the accreditation requires that you demonstrate your skills and competence to the tutor, and third, we believe that interactional skills need to be taught and developed face-to-face.

Are there any prerequisites to attending the course?

No. We welcome a wide variety of delegates on to the course, ranging from those who are experienced in mediation but who don’t have the formal qualification, all the way through to those who have no experience with conflict resolution.

Our training takes you right from the very start – the psychology behind why we get into conflict – and our trainers are experts in getting groups on to the same page.

What are the timings and duration of the course?

This course is typically delivered over five days, face-to-face, and usually Monday-Friday, 9-5. However, we can be flexible to clients' needs and split the course into two blocks (2 + 3).

We also offer a blended version, which is naturally split into two blocks (3 days online + 3 days face-to-face).

Delegates must attend for all 40 hours in order to achieve the qualification, as outlined by AIM Qualifications.

How is the course assessed?

Learners are assessed through both a practical skills assessment and a post-course written assessment.

The practical assessment takes place on the final day of the training. The trainer will observe your newfound mediation skills in a role play scenario and provide live feedback if required.

The written assessment is then sent to you once you have completed the training. This takes the form of four essay-style questions, covering topics from the course and inviting you to come up with your own personal development plan. Each answer must be a minimum of 1,000 words (4,000 words in total) and we provide four weeks for you to complete the assessment. We advise that it typically takes 8-12 hours of private study time.

Learners must complete both assessments to the required standard in order to achieve the qualification.

Will I be a qualified mediator after completing the course?

Absolutely! Our qualifications set the standard in mediation training!

You will be an Accredited Mediator, holding a highly-regarded Level Four qualification, which is externally accredited by AIM Qualifications and quality assured by The British Assessment Bureau. You will be ready to go straight out and start getting your first mediation cases!

Do you offer support after I become a mediator?

We do. We have a dedicated team who are on-hand and ready to provide advice and support as and when you need it.

Once you are qualified, we also provide access to the IMPC Learner Zone, an exclusive members-only area of our website. Here, you will be able to revisit training materials from your course, download all of the forms and templates that you will need for your practice, and log requests for support.