AboutCommunicourt
CommunicourtisthelargestproviderofHMCTSapprovedintermediaries, operatingacrossEnglandandWalestoprovidefullnationalcoverage.
Ourmissionistoensurethatcourtuserswithcommunicationneedsreceive thenecessaryadjustmentstoparticipateeffectivelyinlegalproceedings, whichcouldalterthecourseoftheirlives.
Theorganisationwasfoundedin2011byNaomiMason,anexperienced speechandlanguagetherapistwhowentontotrainasanintermediary.We beganwithjustoneintermediary,Naomi,providingcommunicationsupport todefendantsinthecriminalcourts.Today,wetrainandemployaround100 intermediariestoassistcourtuserswithcommunicationneedsinallregions andlegaljurisdictions.
“Communicourtwillcontinuetocampaignforgreateraccessto support–wewanttosecureafuturethatensuresafairsystem forall.”-
WilliamScrimshire,ManagingDirector
Whatisanintermediary?
Anintermediaryisacommunicationspecialistwhofacilitates communicationbetweencourtusersandtheCourt.Intermediariesareused whenanindividualisidentifiedashavingcommunicationneeds,whichwill likelymeantheyfacebarrierstoeffectiveparticipationinlegalproceedings.
IntermediariesplayanimportantroleinensuringthattheArticle6rightsof courtuserswithcommunicationneedsareupheld.Theycanhelpensure individualsareabletomakeinformeddecisionsinproceedings,bymaking surekeyinformationisunderstoodandclearinstructionsaregiven.
Whodointermediariesassist?
Intermediariescanassistrespondents,defendants,witnesses,appellants andothersinarangeoflegalsettings.
Theyoftenassistautisticcourtusers,aswellaspeoplewhohavediagnoses including(butnotlimitedto)learningdisability,ADHD,dementia,aphasia, PTSDandarangeofmentalhealthconditionswhichcanimpact communication
Intermediariesalsoworkwithpeoplewhohaveanundiagnosed communicationneed.Underdiagnosisisverycommonamongmanycourt users,whomayhavehadlimitedaccesstosupportservicesinthepast,for arangeofreasons
Whatdointermediariesdo?
Thestrategiesanintermediarywillusetosupportacourtuser’seffective participationwillvaryconsiderablydependingontheindividual’sspecific communicationneeds,andstrategieswhichassistthem.
Noindividualwillhavethesameprofileofcommunicationstrengthsand difficulties,andthereisno‘one-size-fits-all’approach.However,thereare somecommonstrategieswhichanintermediarywillhaveintheirtoolkit:
Conductingdetailedassessment ofanindividual’scommunication profile,documentingfindingsand (whereneedsareidentified) presentingbespoke recommendationstosupport theirparticipationtotheCourt.
Monitoringattentionand emotionalregulation, recommendingandimplenting strategiestosupportinthese areas
Simplifying,breakingdownand recappingverbalinformation throughoutproceedings(inreal timeinhearingsandatother stages,e.g.,inlegalconferences)
Usingvisualaidstoexplaincomplex conceptsordetailedinformation
Creatingeasyreadresources, suchassummariesofkey informationfromhearingsoreasy readversionsofkeydocuments
Checkingunderstanding,usinga rangeofapproaches,toidentify exactlywhattheindividualhasor hasnotunderstood
Providingfeedbackonand monitoringquestionstobeputto theindividualinevidence,to ensuretheycanbeclearly understoodandclearly respondedto
Whendointermediariesassist?
Anintermediary’sfirstinvolvementinacasetypicallyoccurswhenareferral ismadeforanintermediaryassessment.Thisreferralmaybemadedueto arecommendationmadewithinacognitiveorpsychologicalreport,dueto adiagnosislikelytoimpactacourtuser’scommunicationduring proceedings,orbecausetheirlegalteamhaveidentifiedcommunication difficulties.
Theintermediaryreport(writtenwithin5workingdaysoftheassessment) willrecommendwhetheranintermediaryisrequiredtosupportan individual’seffectiveparticipation,andatwhatstages.Anintermediarymay berecommendedtoassist:
Throughoutproceedings,includinganyconferencesrelatingtothe case
Atparticularlycomplexstagesofproceedings(e.g.,duringexpert evidence)
Duringtheindividual’sevidence
TheJudgeinthecasewillreviewtheintermediaryreportandmayhearfrom partiesregardingintermediaryuse.Insomecases,anintermediarymaybe presentatthisstageandcananswerquestionsorprovidefurther informationaboutthereport.Thestagesatwhichanintermediarywillbe allocatedwillthenbedetermined.Anintermediarymayalsoberequested toattendaGroundRulesHearing.
Whathappensatanintermediaryassessment?
Intermediaryassessmentscantypicallybeaccommodatedwithin2weeks (andcanbedonewithindaysforurgentcases).Theycantakeplacein person(ataprofessionaladdress,likeasolicitor’soffices)orremotely (wherenecessaryandappropriate),andlastuptothreehours.
Duringtheassessment,theintermediarywillexplorekeyareasofan individual’scommunicationprofile,includingreceptivevocabulary,auditory workingmemorycapacity,attentionunderstandingofcomplexquestion types,understandingoffigurativelanguage,literacy,expressionandability toprocessverbalinformation.Theassesmentwillalsoexplorestrategies thatmayassistparticipationinthecourtroom,commentingonthelikely effectivenessofthosestrategiesorotherwise.
Doesmyclientneedanintermediary?
Legalteams,andsolicitorsinparticular,areoftenthefirsttonoticeandraisethat theirclientappearstohavedifficultieswithcommunicationinlegalproceedings.
However,legalpractitionersarenotcommunicationspecialists,which meansthatit’snotalwayseasytofeelconfidentaboutidentifyinga communicationneed.
Insomecases,mentalhealth,engagementandotherfactorscancomplicate thepicture.Inotherinstances,aclientmayhaveadiagnosiswhichcanaffect communicationbutmayfeelthisconditioniswellmanaged.It’salsovery commonforindividualswithacommunicationdifficultytomaskanyissuesthey maybehaving,makingitevenhardertoidentifytheirneedsandthesupport theyrequire.
Thetruthisthatthereisnoexact‘checklist’orruleofthumbwhichcanbe appliedwhenyoususpectyourclientcouldhaveacommunication difficulty.Thisiswhyintermediaryassessmentscanbeveryhelpful.By exploringallkeycommunicationdomains,theseassessmentswillidentify areasofrelativestrengthanddifficulty,compilingaclearcommunication profileofyourclient.
Ifyouarenotsurewhethertorequestanintermediaryassessment,itmay behelpfultoaskyourselfthefollowingquestions:
Doesyourclientoftenagreewhenaskediftheyunderstandbut cannotexplaininformationbacktoyouwhenaskedtodoso?
Dotheyfrequentlymisunderstandorforgetinformation?
Dotheystruggletomaintainattention,oftenlosingfocus, becomingfidgety,physicallyrestlessoreasilydistracted?
Dotheyregularly‘goofftopic’todiscussunrelatedsubjects?
Dotheyoftengive“yes”,“no”ornon-verbalanswerswhichdo notdemonstrateclearunderstandingof(orengagementwith) theconversation?
Pleasenote,thischecklistofcommunicationdifficultyindicatorsisbyno meansexhaustive.Everypersonwithacommunicationneedisuniqueand thereisno‘onesizefitsall’toolforidentification.Additionalquestionsabout theperson’sexperienceofeducationortheirunderstandinginprevious hearingsorconferencescanalsoofferinsight.
Anoteondiagnoses
Aclientwhoreportsadiagnosisofalearningdisability,alearningdifficulty, AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder(ADHD),autism,stroke,Traumatic BrainInjury(TBI),schizophrenia,Post-TraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD), anxiety-orotherconditions-mayhavecommunicationneeds.
However,insomecases,individualswithformaldiagnosesmaynothave communicationneedswhichrequireintermediaryassistance.Forexample, theymaytakemedicationormayhavedevelopedstrategiestoeffectively managecommunicationdifficulties.
Itmaybehelpfultoconsiderthefollowingpoints:
Aclientwithacommunication-relateddiagnosismayhavelearned maskingstrategies.Theirdifficultiesmaybemoremarkedthanthey appear
Askingyourclienthowtheirdiagnosisaffectsthemintheireveryday lifemayhelpprovidemoreinsight
Askingyourclientabouttheirexperiencesinconferencesandcourt hearingsmayalsohelpinformthisdecision
Rememberthatyourclientmaynotfeelcomfortablediscussingor disclosingtheirdiagnosisorrelatedcommunicationdifficulties,ormay lackinsightintotheirneeds
Aclientwhodoesnothavediagnosesmayalsohavecommunication difficulties.Underdiagnosisandreducedaccesstoservicesand supportarecommon
Ifyouareuncertainaboutaclient’scommunicationneeds,an intermediaryassessmentcanprovidedetailedinformationabouttheir communicationprofile
HowdoImakeareferral?
Tomakeareferralforanintermediaryassessment,pleasevisitthe CommunicourtwebsiteandaccessourBookingsPortalbyclicking“Makea ReferralorRequestNewDates”onthehomepage.
Howareintermediariesfunded?
IncaseswhereyourclientreceivesLegalAid,intermediaryservicesare mostlyfundedbyHMCTS(subjecttojudicialapproval),withnochargesor paymentsrequiredbylegalrepresentatives.
Thereareexceptionstothisrule,dependingonthetypeofcaseandthe typeofbookingrequired.
Forexample,forpre-hearingconferencesinfamilyproceedings,private familyproceedings,orcasesinvolvingunrepresentedpartieswhodonot haveLegalAid,alternativefundingroutesmaybeused.Thismayalsobe thecaseindifferentjurisdictions,suchasEmploymentorImmigration Tribunals.
Everycaseisdifferent,andfundingroutescanvary Ifanintermediaryisnot fundedthroughthestandardHMCTSroute,intermediaryassistancecanbe fundedprivately,paidforbythecourt,ordirectlythroughLegalAid.
Ifyouareuncertainaboutintermediaryfunding,pleasegetintouchto discussthespecificcase.Ourteamcanprovidemoredetailedinformation aboutthefundingroutesavailable Pleasegetintouchvia admin@communicourt.co.uk,ortelephone01216630931.
HMCTSManagedandApprovedServiceProvider(MASP)framework
WeareaManagedandApprovedServiceProviderundertheHMCTS intermediaryscheme(implementedin2022).Thismeansthatourserviceis regulatedbytheMinistryofJustice,allowingHMCTSgreaterinsightinto importantaspectsofourservice(suchastrainingandhowweverifythe identityandbackgroundsofstaff).Ourratesareinlinewiththeapproved frameworkratecard.
Frequentlyaskedquestions
HowcansomeoneaccessCommunicourt'sservices?
Individuals,legalprofessionals(includingtheCourts),orsupportorganisations cancontactCommunicourtdirectlytoinquireaboutservices Referralscanbe madebylegalprofessionalsortheCourtsviatheCommunicourtwebsite.
Whatstepscanbetakentoadvocateforintermediaryassistanceearlyin proceedings?
Evidencefromcognitivereports,psychologicalreports,GPsandothersources canhelpsupportanintermediaryapplication,ascanclearinformationabout anycommunicationdifficultiesexperiencedbytheindividual’slegalteam.It mayhelptogiveconcreteexamplesofanycommunicationbarriersyouhave witnessed,andtheirimpactonparticipationinlegalconferencesetc.
Intermediaryassistanceearlyinproceedingshasmanypotentialbenefits, includingensuringthatyourclienthasaclearunderstandingofthecaseatthe outset,andthattheyareabletogiveclear,informedinstructionsregardinghow theircaseshouldproceed.Insomecases,thismayleadtoearlierresolutionof proceedings(whentheindividualunderstandskeyinformationinthecase),and canpreventdelaystothecaseresultingfrommiscommunication,changing positionsandcommunicationbreakdownbetweentheclientandtheirlegal team.Inshort,intermediaryassistanceattheearliestpossiblestagecanhelp casesrunmoresmoothlyandfairlyfromtheoutset
Funding
DoesCommunicourtacceptLegalAidfunding?
Yes,Communicourtacceptslegalaidfundingtocovercommunication supportcostsforeligibleindividuals.
WhatoptionsareavailableforindividualsnoteligibleforLegalAid?
Alternativefundingmayincludesocialserviceagencies,disabilitysupport programs,insurance,orprivatearrangements.ContactCommunicourtfor moreinformationat01216630931.
Isfinancialassistanceavailableforindividualswithlimitedmeans?
Communicourtmayassistinexploringfinancialassistanceoptionsfor eligibleindividualsandfamilies.Pleasecontactusdirectlytodiscussthis further.
Whataretheproceduresforprivatelyfundinganintermediary?Isacourt ordernecessary,orcanclientsapproachintermediariesdirectly?
Privatelyfundinganintermediarytypicallyrequiresdemonstratingthe necessitythroughassessmentsandreports.Whileacourtordermaybe necessaryinsomecases,clientscanoftenapproachCommunicourtdirectly forservices.
Theintermediaryrole
Canintermediariesattendmeetingswithotherprofessionals,outsideof thecourtenvironment,suchasLACreviewmeetings,meetingswiththe guardianorprobationmeetings?
Intermediariescanassistinmostprofessionalsettingsprovidingthe locationisappropriateandfundinghasbeensecured.Theintermediaryrole istofacilitatecommunicationandtheirattendanceinmeetingswith anotherprofessionaloutsideoftheserviceuser’slegalteamshouldnot bearanyimpactontheoutcomeortheevidenceinthecase.
Whatisthedifferencebetweenanadvocateandanintermediary?
Anintermediaryisanimpartial,trainedcommunicationspecialistwitha dutytothecourt.Anintermediarycanassistatallstagesofproceedings (includingtheevidencestage)andmakerecommendationstothecourtto supportanindividualtocommunicate.Anadvocateprovidessupportto vulnerablepeopleacrossarangeofsettings,e.g.meetings,appointments, travel.Anadvocatecansupportincourtbutcannotmakeformal recommendationsorassistduringevidence.
Cananintermediaryassistwhenthereisalsoaninterpreter?
Yes,theintermediaryprovidesadifferentroletotheinterpreter Althoughthe rolesdiffer,itisimportantthattheyworktogethertoensureeffective communicationtakesplace.
HowcanIestablishifaclienthascommunicationdifficultieswhenEnglish isnottheirfirstlanguageandtheyrequireaninterpreter?
Ifyouareworkingwithaclientthroughaninterpreter,andhaveconcerns abouttheircommunicationabilities(beyondthelanguagebarrier), Communicourtrecommendsaskingtheinterpretertonotifyyouifthey observeanyspeechorunderstandingdifficulties,i.e.iftheyarehavingto simplifywords,furtherexplainconceptsorrepeatinformation.Ifthereare anyconcerns,anintermediaryassessment(withaninterpreterpresent)will beabletoexploreyourclient’sfullcommunicationprofile.
Canintermediariesassistduringacognitiveassessment?
Weareunabletoassistduringassessmentscompletedbyanother professional,suchasacognitiveorcapacityassessment.Intermediariesalso cannotcommentonaclient’slevelofunderstandingduringanexpert assessment.Intermediariesareimpartialofficersofthecourtandbybeing partofsuchanassessment,thereistheriskofthisbeingimpactedandthe intermediarybecominganexpertwitness.
General
WhatistheHAISframework,andhowdoesitrelatetoCommunicourt?
TheHAISframeworkallowsorganisationslikeCommunicourttoprovide specialisedservicessupportingindividualswithcommunicationneedsin legalsettings,ensuringhighstandardsandrecognitionbyHMCTS. CommunicourthavebeenawardedacontractontheHAISframeworkasa ManagedandApprovedServiceProvider(MASP).
Howdointermediariesensureimpartiality?
Intermediariesensureimpartialitybyoutliningrolesandprofessional boundarieswithbothlegalteamsandserviceusers.Intermediariesfocus strictlyongatheringinformationandobservationsrelevantto communicationneeds.Theyavoidformingpersonalopinionsonthecase andcannotofferlegaladvice.Theirroleistoensureeffective communicationbetweentheserviceuserandlegalprofessionalsduring courtproceedings,andtheirdutyistothecourt.
AreCommunicourt'sservicesconfidential?
Yes,Communicourtprioritisesconfidentiality.Allinformationsharedduring serviceprovisionistreatedwithstrictconfidentialityandcomplieswithdata protectionregulations.Intermediariescompletetrainingonconfidentiality duringtheaccreditedintermediarytrainingprogramandallstaffcomplete externaldataprotectiontraining.
IsCommunicourt'sserviceavailablenationwide?
CommunicourtoperatesacrossEnglandandWales.Serviceavailability mayvary;contactCommunicourtfordetailsspecifictoyourarea.
Resources&CPDforlegalpractitioners
TheAccessBrief
THE
ACCESS BRIEF
ThisisCommunicourt’slibraryoffreeresourcesforlegal practitionerswhoareworkingwithaclientwitha communicationneed.Hereyouwillfindbite-sizedguidesto workingwithclientswhohavedifferentconditions(suchas autism,ADHD,learningdisability,braininjuryandanxiety).
Hereyou’llalsofindquickguidestoworkingwithanintermediary,fromhow anintermediaryandinterpretercanworktogether,toworkingwithan intermediaryinconferences.Therearealsoguidestohelpfultechniques, suchascheckingunderstandingeffectively,andcreatingvisualaids.
CommunicourtCPDsessions
Communicourtoffersfree,certifiedCPDsessionstolegal practitioners.Oursession,“Avoiceforvulnerablecourtusers”, introduceskeyconceptsaroundcommunicationneedsat court,supportingimprovedidentificationofcommunication difficulties,andunderstandingoftheintermediaryrole.
Sessionscanbedeliveredonlineorinperson.Formoreinformationorto bookasession,pleasevisitourwebsite,emailcpd@communicourt.co.ukor callSusanMahayon07939955031.
TheAccessingJusticePodcast
TheDebrief
Communicourt’spodcast,coveringawiderangeoftopics, fromhiddendisabilitiesinlegalproceedings(Series2),and KamaMellyKContrauma-informed‘lawyering’,to broadcasterChrisPackham’sreflectionsonattendingcourt asanautisticperson ListenonPodbeanorSpotify
Ourquarterlynewsletter,TheDebrief,isaroundupofour latestresourcesforlegalpractitioners,alongsiderecent researchintocommunicationneedsinlegalproceedings, delivereddirecttoyourinboxinaquick-readformat. SubscribeusingtheformtotherightofTheAccessBrief.
Communicourtonsocialmedia
WeuseX(Twitter),LinkedInandInstagramtoshareresourcesand informationthatsupportslegalpractitionersworkingwithclientswhohave communicationneeds.Followuson:
Bluesky
Contactus
Forreferralsorinformationaboutbookinganintermediary:
Pleasecontactadmin@communicourt.co.uk,telephone01216630931or visitwww.communicourt.co.uk.Youcanalsomakeareferralorbooknew datesviaouronlineportal.
ForinformationaboutCommunicourtevents,ortogetinvolvedina Communicourtproject:
Pleaseemailevents@communicourt.co.uk
ForinformationaboutbookingaCPDsession:
Pleaseemailcpd@communicourt.co.uk,callSusanMahayon 07939955031orvisitourCPDwebpage:www.communicourt.co.uk/freecpd
Printableposters& resourcesforclients
Onthenextfewpagesyouwillfindasetofdocumentsyoucanprintor downloadfromourwebsite,including:
Poster:‘Doesmyclientneedanintermediary?’(forbackofficespaces)
Poster:‘Doyouneedextrahelpatcourt?’(forclientfacingareas)
Easyreadinformation:‘Whatisanintermediaryassessment?”and “Intermediaryassessments:Whatarethetasks?”(forclients)
What is an intermediary assessment?
You have been asked to come to an intermediary assessment. The assessment is a meeting to find out if you need any help at court.
An intermediary is a court helper.
They can explain things to you at court – in a clear way. They can tell the judge how to make it easier for you to:
• • Understand things at court Speak at court (if you need to do this)
Doing the assessment is your choice.
When you meet the intermediary, you can say yes or no to the assessment. It will not change what happens in your case
During the assessment
The intermediary will ask some questions about you. They will ask about things you find easy, difficult, and helpful.
They will not ask about your case.
They will ask you do some tasks.
The assessment can take up to 3 hours. But it can be shorter. You can take breaks or stop any time you want.
The intermediary will write a report after the assessment.
The report will be sent to the judge, your solicitor and the other lawyers in the case.
The report will say if you need an intermediary at court.
It will say if you need any other help at court.
The judge will read the report. They will decide what help you have.
If you have any questions about the assessment, please speak to your solicitor.
Intermediary assessment: What are the tasks?
During your intermediary assessment, you will be asked to do some tasks. The tasks are to find out what help you might need at court.
They are to do with skills like:
o Remembering things
o Understanding court words
o Understanding questions
o Reading
Don’t worry if you find any of the tasks difficult. This helps us understand what help you will need at court. It won’t affect your case at all.
Here are some of the tasks you might be asked to do:
Questions about you
- Your education (what school was like)
- Your daily life
- Your health and mental health
Memory tasks
- Remembering lists - Remembering a story
Court words
Questions about what different legal words mean. This is to find out the best way to give you information at court.
Answering questions
This is to find out the best way for lawyers to ask you questions. For example, some people find long questions difficult.
Reading task
You will be asked about your reading skills. You may be asked to read something.
Dates and numbers task
You will be asked about some dates, times and numbers. You might be asked to use a calendar.
If you have any questions about the assessment, please speak to your solicitor.
