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ABOUT US
Our Mission
Special Needs Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services.
Special Needs Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services.
We provide mediation and disagreement resolution for children and young people and their parents in dispute with their local authority, health or care providers, as required by the Children & Families Act 2014 and Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
Charles Horn
SEN Mediator
Charles Horn is our Principal Mediator. Academically and professionally double-qualified, and with an exceptional experience drawn nationally from more than 1,200 SEN/SEND and Disability Discrimination Act/Equality Act mediations since 2002, Charles is an advanced negotiation expert with multi-faceted mediation experience.
Charles mediates SEN and EqA cases in many Local Authority areas. His style is holistically reactive to the needs of the parties and their interactions with others, always looking for a 'fundamentally wise' child-centric solution in all cases.
Charles is a duly qualified mediator under Regulation 40, Special Educational Needs & Disability Regulations 2014, an accredited SEND Mediator listed on the Joint Register of the College of Mediators and the Civil Mediation Council - as well as a mediation adviser under S.56(2) and independent person under S.57(6) Children & Families Act 2014
MEET OUR TEAM
Our team is highly experienced both nationally and locally, so they understand your needs and the particular issues you are trying to manage
Lorraine Johnson
Senior Independent SEN Case Manager
Lorraine has 20 years of SEND experience. Starting her career as a specialist adviser working with children and young people, she moved on to set up and run two well respected Parent Partnership Services (SENDIASS). Delivering a diverse range of services to 1000’s of families and pioneering proactive parent engagement, Lorraine is known for her practical application of empathy and the ability to solve problems in partnership with others.
Lorraine's most recent experience as a leader and senior officer for a busy Local Authority SEND Department saw her act in a pivotal role implementing the SEND reforms and leading her team through a successful OfSTED review.
Her experiences provide a unique 360° perspective to her case management work and her mantra is ‘do what’s legal and do what’s right for the family and you can’t go wrong’.
Lorraine is a duly qualified mediation adviser under S.56(2) and independent person under S.57(6) Children & Families Act 2014
Debbie Denley
Independent Mediation Advisor
Debbie is a qualified Teacher who
taught for many years in an inner city school in Birmingham. She worked as a
SENDIASS (Parent Partnership) officer for eight years supporting and impartially
advising Parents, Carers and young people on SEN and disability related issues and
latterly has worked as a Local Authority officer writing and amending EHCP’s and
case managing. Her spectrum of experience covers the triad of areas usually involved
in SEN mediation.
In whatever role, Debbie is passionate about putting the child or young person at the heart
of all discussions and finding a way forward that has them and their aspirations front
and centre. She works from a person-centred perspective coupled with common
sense. She is down to earth and has a wealth of experience to draw on to find a sense
checked and practical way ahead.
Debbie is a duly qualified mediation adviser under S.56(2) and independent person under S.57(6) Children & Families Act 2014
Jane Edwards
SEN Mediator
Jane has a wealth of experience and knowledge of SEN, having been both a teacher, and having worked in Local Authority education teams, before qualifying as an Accredited Mediator with the Regent's University.
Jane has B.Ed, B.Phil degrees, as well as Cert Ed. Cert FE qualifications.
Jane's strengths are her ability to listen and support people in vocalising their thoughts, anxieties and beliefs, with the natural ability to facilitate positive interactions and communication with a wide range of participants.
Jane has a deep understanding of the emotional, legal and technical aspects arising from conflict between parents and Local Authorities, and uses her substantial experience to help everyone reach a win/win outcome.
1,378
Cases Mediated
Some of Our Feedback
"I have known and worked with Charles for ten years during which time he has provided excellent mediation support in some very complex cases, helping everyone to agree creative solutions."
Jane E, LA Officer
"Charles, your help was pivotal as in assisting everyone to reach a fundamentally wise agreement."
David L, Parent
"Thank you so much Charles; a fantastic result yesterday - your help is much appreciated."
Tara C - Headteacher
More from the BBC.......
So we may all look a little younger in our individual bio shots - here's a 2024 update!
Our Head Office is:
Quadrant Court 49 Calthorpe Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1TH New phone number: 0121 337 0500 same email: charles@senmediator.co.uk
Families of children with special educational needs have felt "utterly abandoned" during school closures, an MPs' committee has been told. Witnesses told the education committee those with extra educational, physical or emotional needs had seen support "fall off a cliff" amid lockdown. Risk assessments linked to Covid-19 had been used by some schools to prevent SEND pupils attending, it heard. There was also concern national catch-up plans do not mention SEND children. Witnesses from the special educational needs and disability (SEND) world painted a bleak and disturbing picture of life for pupils with additional needs.
We know it's a worrying time for everyone right now, but rest assured that everyone on the senmediator.co.uk team is still working for you! We have robust procedures in place and can continue to offer a really great SEN mediation service. Staff are working remotely, and putting in extra hours (and may take a little longer to get back to you) so please do bear with us. All mediations are now being handled via our Active Case Management protocol, with meetings (if required) by online video. Taking part in a video mediation is easy – it's via Whats App, so no special software, knowledge or equipment is needed (just a smartphone and WiFi connection). We are here to help, and will do our best to assist you.
OK so hit this link and listen A really long day in Birmingham yesterday mediating James Brindley cases (thanks for turning out in the hols Esther = 5*SENCo!) What struck me was almost every case exemplified SEMH overtaking SEN as the primary need. Yes I know CAMHS/FTB are inundated - but these kids need help NOW, not in 6-12 months (if they ever get accepted). Mental health is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) barrier to accessing education, and all the CYP's discussed yesterday (one actually turned up - great!) have a sad and long history of not getting the help they need, when they need it. When it arrives it's often just Citalopram or CBT - but the damage is already buried under a 'weight of inaction'. Thank goodness the Birmingham LA Tribunal officers are totally 'on the ball' on these cases in mediation, assessing and issuing and making provision when it's clear. But sometimes it's not- what to do then? My advice is to get a sensory assessment (which is often the 'missing piece'). Either an EP or OT (depending on your LA/school/college) can do this. In the meantime enjoy the track - maybe your child will like it too...
People often ask me 'how do I learn negotiation? (which is a core mediation skill set). Well, I think most of us skipped that lesson (for the reason it wasn't offered at school... or pretty much anywhere else). That's why most people don't know how to negotiate (and anthropologically do so on what's called a 'positional bargaining' basis). Positional bargaining derives from the hard-wired 'fight or fight' response, and is not the best way of getting what you want or need - as I have a postgraduate Master's degree in conflict resolution, you're going to have to trust me on this! I love this cartoon because it illustrates how most of us feel when presented with a 'negotiation challenge'. In coming posts I will explain how to negotiate. Really? - just 'giving it away'?... sure!, the more people who know how to do it properly, the better. Remember, I don't do mediation 'to you', I do it 'with you' - effectively teaching you how it works, and therefore 'how to do it'. It works with SEN, negotiating with your children, partner, whatever... watch this space!
MOST RECENT FEEDBACK
So we may all look a little younger in our individual bio shots - here's a 2024 update!
Quadrant Court 49 Calthorpe Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1TH New phone number: 0121 337 0500 same email: charles@senmediator.co.uk
Families of children with special educational needs have felt "utterly abandoned" during school closures, an MPs' committee has been told. Witnesses told the education committee those with extra educational, physical or emotional needs had seen support "fall off a cliff" amid lockdown. Risk assessments linked to Covid-19 had been used by some schools to prevent SEND pupils attending, it heard. There was also concern national catch-up plans do not mention SEND children. Witnesses from the special educational needs and disability (SEND) world painted a bleak and disturbing picture of life for pupils with additional needs.
We know it's a worrying time for everyone right now, but rest assured that everyone on the senmediator.co.uk team is still working for you! We have robust procedures in place and can continue to offer a really great SEN mediation service. Staff are working remotely, and putting in extra hours (and may take a little longer to get back to you) so please do bear with us. All mediations are now being handled via our Active Case Management protocol, with meetings (if required) by online video. Taking part in a video mediation is easy – it's via Whats App, so no special software, knowledge or equipment is needed (just a smartphone and WiFi connection). We are here to help, and will do our best to assist you.
OK so hit this link and listen A really long day in Birmingham yesterday mediating James Brindley cases (thanks for turning out in the hols Esther = 5*SENCo!) What struck me was almost every case exemplified SEMH overtaking SEN as the primary need. Yes I know CAMHS/FTB are inundated - but these kids need help NOW, not in 6-12 months (if they ever get accepted). Mental health is one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) barrier to accessing education, and all the CYP's discussed yesterday (one actually turned up - great!) have a sad and long history of not getting the help they need, when they need it. When it arrives it's often just Citalopram or CBT - but the damage is already buried under a 'weight of inaction'. Thank goodness the Birmingham LA Tribunal officers are totally 'on the ball' on these cases in mediation, assessing and issuing and making provision when it's clear. But sometimes it's not- what to do then? My advice is to get a sensory assessment (which is often the 'missing piece'). Either an EP or OT (depending on your LA/school/college) can do this. In the meantime enjoy the track - maybe your child will like it too...
People often ask me 'how do I learn negotiation? (which is a core mediation skill set). Well, I think most of us skipped that lesson (for the reason it wasn't offered at school... or pretty much anywhere else). That's why most people don't know how to negotiate (and anthropologically do so on what's called a 'positional bargaining' basis). Positional bargaining derives from the hard-wired 'fight or fight' response, and is not the best way of getting what you want or need - as I have a postgraduate Master's degree in conflict resolution, you're going to have to trust me on this! I love this cartoon because it illustrates how most of us feel when presented with a 'negotiation challenge'. In coming posts I will explain how to negotiate. Really? - just 'giving it away'?... sure!, the more people who know how to do it properly, the better. Remember, I don't do mediation 'to you', I do it 'with you' - effectively teaching you how it works, and therefore 'how to do it'. It works with SEN, negotiating with your children, partner, whatever... watch this space!
About Us
Providing parents, carers, young people & young adults with mediation advice and disagreement resolution services.
senmediator.co.uk is the special educational needs mediation provision of Resolution Dynamics Ltd
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Contact us
0121 262 4100
charles@senmediator.co.uk
The Colmore Building20 Colmore CircusBirmingham B4 6AT
charles@senmediator.co.uk
The Colmore Building
20 Colmore Circus
Birmingham B4 6AT