In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast host David Opie is joined by Mike Mack, CEO of the Family Mediation Trust, and Lorraine Bramwell, a seasoned family mediator and trainer, to discuss the creation of a new Domestic Abuse Screening Tool.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Family Mediation Trust and the Family Mediation Council (FMC), aimed at improving the consistency and effectiveness of domestic abuse screening in mediation settings.

The conversation begins with an overview of the Family Mediation Trust’s longstanding role in supporting families through separation and its broader mission to enhance the mediation sector. Mike explains the Trust recognised a gap in consistent domestic abuse screening, a sentiment shared by Lorraine who added while mediators are trained to recognize and respond to abuse, current approaches vary widely.

The new tool aims to consolidate best practices into a unified framework, ensuring all FMC-registered mediators have access to a consistent, practical resource.

Alongside a range of sensitive, non-intrusive questions, the toolkit will also provide guidance on interpreting responses and help direct clients to appropriate support services when mediation is not suitable. There is also the evolving nature of domestic abuse, including the rise of technological abuse (e.g., misuse of smart home devices), which requires the adaptation of mediation practices accordingly. He adds around 40% of the Trust’s cases involve some form of domestic abuse, underscoring the urgency of this initiative.

And with the changes to Family Procedure Rules increasing the volume and complexity of cases referred to mediation, now is absolutely the right time to focus efforts on this initiative; with consultation ongoing and a planned launch at the FMC’s conference in September 2025.

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