Does this person need an intermediary? Every person with a communication difficulty is different. Some will have a diagnosis, like a learning disability. Others will not have a diagnosis, but may struggle to maintain attention, follow verbal discussions, retain information or express themselves clearly. Intermediary assessments can identify difficulties and provide recommendations to support effective participation in proceedings. Most assessments are fully funded by HMCTS or Legal Aid.
CONSIDER AN INTERMEDIARY ASSESSMENT IF YOU NOTICE: They have difficulty understanding or remembering information. They may say they understand, but struggle to demonstrate understanding when asked to recap information in their own words. They struggle to maintain attention. They may appear restless and fidgeting or have difficulty remaining focussed during meetings. They may seek reactions from others, be easily frustrated or 'zone out' of discussions.
They often digress from the topic of conversation to speak about unrelated or only tangentially related subjects. They may speak at length or appear to have difficulty moving on to discuss other matters. Their descriptions or accounts are unclear. They may provide information in a way which appears unclear, confusing or inconsistent. They may struggle to find the words to explain themselves.
They give limited responses such as 'yes' 'no' answers, or non-verbal responses (like shrugging or shaking their head). They may find it difficult to engage, show understanding or give further detail.
www.communicourt.co.uk 0121 663 0931