Guide to conducting a remote online mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM)
What Is a Remote Meeting?
A Remote Meeting / Video Conference uses video and audio connections to offer our meetings online. This type of meeting is used to connect to parties located in different areas of the Country or unable to attend our offices. Remote meetings used to lack the personal feel of a face-to-face meeting, but technology is now much more stable and reliable (with a decent Internet connection) it can become an alternative or a preferred option where travel, time or health constraints are relevant.
Video Technology
There are a variety of remote software Platforms offered and free to download.
We offer the following FREE platforms for Remote Meetings using:-
- Zoom (Preferred Option) – https://zoom.us/signin
Available on any iOS or Android phone/tablet.
Your email address is required
- Skype – https://www.skype.com/en/
Available on any iOS or Android phone/tablet.
Your Skye username, telephone and email address is required
- FaceTime – Only available on iOS
Your mobile telephone number is required
Your email address is required
Available on any iOS or Android phone/table
Your mobile telephone number is required
Your email address is required
WhatsApp is not GDPR 2018 compliant. If you wish to go ahead with this platform, you will be asked to confirm by email you accept this and regardless of this information you wish to proceed using this method.
Remote Meetings For privately funded parties
Prior to any meeting taking place, we will agree which software platform will be used.
We will receive your Identification documentation, take payment for the session and our experienced Coordinators will schedule the appointment date and time, sending a confirmation e-mail for you to accept.
Be prepared to confirm your identity at the beginning of the session by answering some personal questions.
Remote Meetings For Those Eligible For Funding (Legal Aid)
Remote MIAM Meetings can be offered to those who are on Income Support (IS), Universal Credit (UC), Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (IRESA), Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (IBJSA) or Pension Guarantee Credit (PGC). It will be necessary for you to provide to us evidence of your benefit entitlement and any other relevant financial documentation prior to any meeting being arranged. Evidence is to be sent via email legalaidsupport@midlandsdove.co.uk. Please refer to our guide ‘Is my Assessment Going to be Free’. It is very important that you provide all the information requested.
Our experienced Senior Coordinator will confirm your entitlement for free Mediation following review. Please be aware you may be asked for additional information to support the claim for Legal Aid. If information is incomplete you appointment will be cancelled and rescheduled.
If you are entitled to Free Mediation, you will be asked to sign and return (by post)/electronically sign (by email) the Client Declaration on Form CIV Means 7 to enable us to receive your funding from the Legal Aid Agency. This will be sent to your via post or email link. This form must be returned or you may have to pay for your Assessment Meeting.
Once we have received your income evidence, we will receive your Identification documentation our experienced Coordinators will schedule the appointment date and time, sending a confirmation e-mail for you to accept.
Be prepared to confirm your identity at the beginning of the session by answering some personal questions.
Successful Remote Meetings
- Meetings are confidential and are not to be recorded (we will explain if there are any professional exceptions to this)
- Be prepared for a two to three second delay and /or initial connection issues
- Always treat a remote meeting as you would a face to face meeting
- Ensure your location is quiet and background noise is minimal
- Ensure you are on your own. Please let us know in advance if you will need a e. support worker, interpreter etc
- Keep body movements to a minimum
- Keep good eye contact at all times
- Speak clearly
- Allow time for each person to finish what they are saying ( avoids distortion)
- Avoid distractions such as eating, drinking, using your phone
By agreeing to participate and arranging a remote/online video MIAM meeting with ourselves you are agreeing you are agreeing to comply with the following:-
- You will not create any electronic, video or audio record of the mediation;
- You will not make or allow any live or deferred video or audio relay of the mediation to others;
- Only the participants to the mediation and those who have signed the agreement to mediate will be present in the room used by each participant during any mediation session.
