Professional and Ethical Standards in the Activity of a Mediator: Problems of Implementation and Control

The article presents the experience of the Kemerovo region in creating system for training mediators in the Kuzbass Centre for Psychological and Educational, Medical and Social Care. The authors reveal the genesis and the main conceptual, methodological and technological aspects of the development of a regional model to train mediators for the educational system of Kuzbass. In conceptual and methodological terms, training mediators is based on a restorative approach and a transdisciplinary paradigm of restorative justice. The system of training mediators includes: training the skills of restorative technologies within additional professional educational programs of refresher courses; monthly methodological seminars for mediators and curators of reconciliation services in the region, supervision and intervision sessions for restorative programs’ facilitator; training programs for young volunteer mediators of school reconciliation services. The authors highlight the main risk factors and conditions for the effective work of mediators in difficult school, family and criminal situations, and the possibility of taking risks into account when training mediators and curators of reconciliation services. For the effective training of a mediator – restorative programs’ facilitator, it is important to focus on mastering: the principles of a restorative approach and the procedure of restorative mediation, the position of a mediator, technologies for conducting restorative programs (restorative mediation, community circles, a family conference, a school conference, a school-parent council, preventive restorative programs), skills of restorative communication, legal framework of reconciliation services in Russia. Monitoring data on the activities of the reconciliation services in Kuzbass on the implementation of restorative programs show a good level of training of mediators

The Effectiveness of a Service for Helping Destitute Men

SummaryThe effectiveness of a voluntary organization which aimed to help destitute men contacted by means of a ‘soup run’ was evaluated. The assessment was carried out in stages. At the end of each stage results were discussed with the organization and a set of recommendations for further action put forward. At the end of the first stage, it was agreed that the organization's aim should be restricted to attempting to help men settle in one of its houses (staffed by young volunteer workers) for a period of at least three months. A number of recommendations intended to achieve this result were unsuccessful. Following the setting up of a night shelter, it was observed that many men attended regularly. An assessment procedure was instituted which resulted in the selection of men who did settle in the houses for long periods, so much so that no further admissions became possible.