MEDIATION TECHNOLOGIES AS A DIRECTION OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF SOCIAL WORKERS

The article, based on the analysis of theory and practice, describes the features of mediation technology as a direction of professional training of social workers. A key systemic element in the implementation of the state’s social policy is social work. Therefore, an important component of this system is the training of competitive social work specialists who are able to solve complex specialized tasks and applied problems of the social sphere, primarily in the provision of social services. In the list of basic social services that social workers professionally provide, an important role is assigned to mediation as an extrajudicial voluntary, confidential, structured procedure, during which the parties, with the help of a mediator, try to prevent the emergence or resolve the conflict through negotiations. The authors emphasize the importance of mediation as a powerful tool for reducing social tension in war conditions, which contributes to establishing dialogue between different social groups, helps to avoid the escalation of conflicts and supports social cohesion. It is theoretically substantiated that for the effective implementation of mediation in Ukraine, comprehensive work of the state, the public sector and international partners is necessary, aimed at training specialists, popularizing mediation methods and creating mechanisms for its application in crisis situations. First of all, training competitive social work specialists capable of professionally providing social services. It has been established that the successful use of mediation technology can be a key factor in the restoration of Ukrainian society in the conditions of and after the war. Prospects for further research are the justification of the technological features of providing social mediation services as an important component of the rehabilitation program for various categories of the population in need of social assistance.