🎧Accessing Justice Podcast🎧 - In our new episode, @siobhanmcC9 (@MSBSolicitors) shares her experience of working with intermediaries & how to arrange intermediary support in #legal conferences. Listen on Podbean: or Spotify:

And just a quick note that you can (increasingly) find us on🦋. Please follow us there!.

Rapport (or lack of it) can make or break effective communication with a court user who has a communication need. Our new blog unpacks the impact of good rapport, and some ways our team of intermediaries build it (including gossiping about Love Island!):

You can read more about how intermediaries and advocates work together, and explore a whole host of other resources, by visiting The Access Brief:

On occasion, a service user will be assisted by both an advocate and an intermediary. Clear communication between professionals about the overlapping and distinct aspects of these roles is vital to ensuring that the service user receives excellent support in all key areas.

Impartiality: Intermediaries will work with all court professionals to advise and facilitate effective communication and can assist during evidence. As advocates' duties are to their client, they can't intervene in proceedings but can provide support outside the context of court.

Advocates support a wide variety of needs in wide variety of contexts. This may include assisting their clients to participate and communicate, but also help with organising their time, getting to appointments, weighing up decisions and liaising with other services.

Intermediaries specialise in supporting communication and participation in #legal proceedings. They do this by assessing communication needs, advising courts on adjustments and assisting service users directly, if required (e.g., through live simplification, visual aids etc).

Advocates and intermediaries - Aren't they just the same thing? Though often mistaken for one another, there are key differences between these professionals and the type of support that they each provide to service users participating in court proceedings. #LegalTwitter

It's #ProBonoWeek and we are piloting a free screening service to support legal professionals who suspect their client may have a communication need. To find out more or access this service for your organisation, please get in touch at screening@communicourt.co.uk

Jo’s assistance supported Kayla & her solicitor to compile an accurate response to threshold, which reflected Kayla’s true opinion. Miscommunication at this crucial stage could have caused issues, for example, if her live evidence was inconsistent with her response to threshold.

Jo simplified the terminology and provided examples of what neglect may involve, using a ‘mind map’ visual to support understanding and retention of the information. Kayla then demonstrated improved understanding and changed her position, agreeing with this part of threshold.

Jo found that Kayla didn't always have a full grasp of ‘less everyday’ words, and often answered questions without full understanding. Kayla denied ‘neglecting’ her child’s needs, but when Jo asked her to explain 'neglect' in her own words, her definition was inaccurate & narrow.

Kayla often misinterpreted questions. For example, explaining what she did in the past, rather than what she would do differently now. Jo used strategies, like a “then & now” visual aid, to help ensure Kayla had understood the question and was able to provide a focussed response.

In November's Moment that Made a Difference, Jo* assists Kayla and her solicitor in a conference to take instructions on threshold. In previous conferences without an intermediary, communication had been difficult. Kayla’s instructions had been unclear. *names / details changed

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