Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution
Ian Ross & Lynne Kerry – VieVolve – 14th October 2011
We are all naturally conflict averse. Parents perceive that dealing with LEA’s and the SENDIST system is intimidating. This session aims to increase your awareness (as parent or professional) and help you develop a bit more power despite the perceived enormity of the task of appealling the contents of your child’s statement of special educational needs or giving evidence in a SENDIST hearing. The session aims to increase internal confidence in the face of experts and authority figures. Noone can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Ian and Lynne will e-mail a copy of the presentation slides on request). Ian and Lynne do not cover the legal position or how to assess or meet a child’s needs or how to give evidence. What they do is give complex international and simple everyday examples are used to illustrate the process. The presentation is interactive with the audience.
When preparing for any negotiation you need to prepare and focus on your desired outcome, focus on finding a creative way to meet the higher level interests of the other party while maintaining your own internal equilibrium, and maintaining your own integrity and principles. Easier said than done. Ian describes the process of anchoring a resourceful state, using positive language and visualising what it will be like when you have achieved your desired outcome for the negotiation. Ian demonstrates how to understand the other parties position from their perspective, how to establish and maintain rapport. When in the meeting room Ian suggests it is helpful for you to define your desired outcome verbally as early as possible, focus on the issue not the person you are negotiating with, do name any unhelpful or undesirable behaviour that the other person engages in and make it public. Do keep a diary and log absolutely everything in the process. Ian ends the presentation with some final illustrations of how to look at the issues objectively as if you were an observer rather than a party, linking your individual negotiation about the needs of your child with the wider system within which the LA is operating and identifying the barriers which stop us resolving the situation and how to re-phrasing key questions. All these strategies give more flexibility and resilience to cope with and manage complex negotiations such as those regarding the Statement of SEN and appeals to SENDIST.
Watch this You Tube Chanel full conference presentation taking you through statementing step by step.
If you have concerns regarding your child and statementing, our multi -disciplinary team of expert therapists can offer support.
Contact us for an informal chat about your child and we will be happy to signpost you to the best support. 0845 838 2921 or contact us online
Sarah Davis
Director of Integrated Treatment Services
March 2012
