Community Mediation Services Division

The Community Mediation Services Division considers that sustainable social transformation of our society and the achievement of social justice requires the permeation and pervasive presence of restorative behaviour throughout our society. Therefore, the division executes several initiatives which aim to encourage the adoption of behaviours that are consistent with the underpinning philosophy of mediation, restoration and peace building.

These initiatives include:

  • Peer Mediation,
  • Social Work Services (counselling, advocacy, and policy),
  • Conflict Management Training,
  • Leadership Skills Development,
  • Anger Management,
  • Emotional Intelligence,
  • Co-Parenting Programme,
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills

In addition to initiatives which are designed according to the needs of the particular organisation or community. These initiatives support the practices of mediation and social work and other therapeutic interventions as well as the facilitation of difficult conversations in communities and special interest groups.

Mediation is a process through which parties request a third neutral person (the mediator) to assist them in their attempt to voluntarily reach a settlement of their dispute. The mediator does not have the authority to impose upon the parties a solution to the dispute.

Community Mediation is available as a mechanism for negotiating the settlement of disputes in a wide variety of areas, such as:

  • Family and Relationship Disputes (eg. visitation rights, access, custody and maintenance)
  • Landlord / Tenant Disputes
  • Small Claims
  • Merchant/Consumer Disputes
  • Community Disputes
  • Neighbourhood Conflicts
  • Organizational / Workplace Conflicts
  • Juvenile Conflicts including truancy and delinquent children
  • Threat and harassment problems
  • Small Contractors and Home Owners

The Community Mediation Services Division considers that sustainable social transformation of our society and the achievement of social justice requires the permeation and pervasive presence of restorative behaviour throughout our society.

Social Work Practice
Our Social Work Specialists utilize three Assessment Models (System Theory, Family System Theory and Ecological Theory) to determine one of the three (3) Practice Models (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Family Therapy) for therapeutic interventions, to enhance and restore individuals, family and group counselling.

The Division collaborates with other agencies through case conferencing and referrals to and from those agencies dependent on the required competences to address the needs of the clients. issues.

The primary roles of the Social Work Specialists are assessment, intervention, and evaluation, along with other roles necessary to enhance and restore healthy functioning and social well-being. They also provide pre and post mediation counselling as required.

Therapeutic Social Interventions
Therapeutic Social Interventions seek to enhance, restore, and empower citizens to help them develop self-efficacy that promotes wellbeing through counselling and various skills training. The therapeutic interventions focus on the healing individual, families, and groups through their adversities, for holistic and long-term resolution.

These interventions are incorporated in community-based programmes as follows:

  • Anger Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Peer Mediation
  • Parenting Support Groups
  • Leadership Skills Development
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Stress Management
  • Men Support Group 

How to Access Our Services

The Community Mediation Centres are open for service. However, mindful of the pandemic and the need for physical and social distancing, we encourage the public to call in as far as possible. The following procedures are in place:

  • Intake Interviews and Counselling are conducted via Telephone or Videoconferencing using Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.
  • Mediation is conducted via Zoom using multiple rooms in a central location as well as our Mediation Mobile Units.
  • In cases of digital poverty where persons are unable to access services virtually, they can access a mediation centre, however they must have their temperatures taken at the Centre, masks must be worn at all times covering the nose, mouth and chin, practice social and physical distancing, hand sanitizing, practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette as well as observing all other recommended Public Health Protocols.
  • Persons who are ill or have been in contact with someone who is ill are asked to use the call-in option only.
  • Clients wishing to physically access a centre should call for an appointment to ensure that the required limit in numbers is maintained.

Available Centres and telephone numbers are:

  • North Main Mediation Centre, 1st Floor, Jobco Building, 51-55, Frederick Street, Port of Spain – 625-2819, 625-6768, PBX 225-4267
  • San Juan Sub-centre, MTS Plaza, Aranguez – 638-8133
  • Tunapuna Sub Centre, Social Services Centre, Main Road, Tunapuna 497-6068
  • Central Main Mediation Centre, 282, Old Southern Main Road, Warrenville, Cunupia – 693-2955
  • Couva Sub-Centre, Couva Social Services Building, Camden Road, Couva – 679-3660

South West main Mediation Centre, 63, Main Road Point Fortin ( Upstairs Ministry of Works and Transport, Licensing Office) 648-2888 or 648-2810