Marital conflict mediation by social welfare officers in selected family support agencies in Lagos

Abstract

The study investigated the level of knowledge and use of mediation by social welfare officers in selected family-based institutions in Lagos State. The qualitative method of In-depth Interviews (IDIs) was employed to collect data from key persons to provide contextual data on the study objectives. Ten respondents, sampled through purposive sampling technique, were recruited from five purposively selected family support agencies in Alimosho, Shomolu and Surulere, Ikeja, and Yaba offices. Results revealed the trajectories of knowledge and usage of mediation resulting in family reconciliation by the practitioners in their social work practice. The study concluded that they know about mediation but in order to have a better future for mediation in social work practice in family institutions, the social welfare officers as well as intending social work students should be professionally trained in the skills and techniques of mediation, communication, and negotiation to reduce the increasing incidences of family crisis and mediation courses should be included in the curriculum for Schools of Social Work in Nigeria.