Structuring Restorative Conversations

After an incident, it’s important to engage in a structured process of restoration. An effective restorative conversation allows individuals to:

• • share their perspectives

• • listen to others’ viewpoints

• • acknowledge their role in what happened

• • understand the impact of their actions

• • repair damaged relationships

• • work together to find positive ways forward

Restorative conversations are part of a wider positive culture of post-incident reflection and repair, and should not be used to apportion blame or pass judgement.

These conversations are often carried out on a 1:1 basis. In some settings, it may be appropriate to hold a group session, depending on a number of factors:

• • the nature of the incident

• • the needs of the individuals involved

• • the context of the setting

This guide details how to set up an effective restorative conversation, and includes prompts around accessibility, as well as a framework of suggested questions to use as a basis for your conversation.