Communication Support & Consultancy
Consultancy
How can I help?
- Reviewing communication practices
- Offering advice for questioning and communicating with vulnerable groups
- Advising on policy development
- Supporting trauma-informed implementation
- Developing training and CPD programmes
- Advising on complex communication needs
- Reviewing interviewing practice
Communication Support
What is an intermediary?
An intermediary is an independent communication specialist who assists vulnerable people to understand and participate in legal proceedings. They assess communication needs, identify barriers to communication and recommend practical strategies to help individuals understand questions and express themselves as accurately and completely as possible.
How I Assist
- Communication assessments
- Police interview recommendations
- Communication assistance during investigative interviews
- Assistance during video identity parades
- Court preparation
- Ground Rules Hearings in court
- Court recommendations
- Communication assistance during court proceedings
- Communication assistance during Fitness to Practice Proceedings
Areas of Expertise
- Children and young people
- Pre-school children
- Vulnerable people
- Autism
- ADHD
- Learning disability
- Trauma
- Mental health needs
- Reluctance
Victim and Witness Intermediary Services
I am a Registered Intermediary on the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme. Registered Intermediaries are independent communication specialists who facilitate communication between vulnerable victims or witnesses and police officers, legal professionals and the courts. Their role is to ensure that individuals can understand questions, communicate effectively and give their best evidence throughout the criminal justice process.
Requests are managed through the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme. Police forces can request my appointment during criminal investigations, while prosecutors can request intermediary assistance for eligible victims and witnesses during court proceedings. Cases are allocated according to the communication needs of the witness, location and intermediary availability. However, you can ask for me directly. Contact Witness Intermediary Team
Defendant and family court services
I undertake defendant and family court intermediary work through The Intermediary Cooperative (TIC). TIC is one of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) Managed and Approved Service Providers (MASPS) for intermediary services in criminal, family and tribunal proceedings. TIC is a national cooperative that matches vulnerable court users with appropriately skilled intermediary professionals, helping to ensure effective communication and meaningful participation throughout legal proceedings.
As a member of The Intermediary Cooperative, I assist vulnerable people by assessing their communication needs, advising legal professionals and the court on appropriate communication strategies, and facilitating effective communication throughout the justice process.
Requests for my defendant and family court intermediary services are managed through The Intermediary Cooperative. Solicitors, legal representatives and courts can make a referral via TiCiT where cases are allocated to an intermediary with the appropriate expertise and availability. You can specifically request the use of my services.
Fitness to Practise Proceedings
Fitness to practise is a process used by professional regulators to determine whether a registrant remains safe and suitable to practise. Its primary purpose is to protect the public, maintain confidence in the profession and uphold professional standards – not to punish practitioners for honest mistakes.
Recognition is growing that vulnerable registrants, witnesses and others involved in fitness to practise proceedings may benefit from intermediary support to ensure they can understand information, communicate effectively and participate meaningfully. Communication needs may arise for a variety of reasons, including learning disability, autism, ADHD, dementia, mental health difficulties etc. These needs can significantly affect a person’s ability to engage with proceedings.
I offer communication assistance for those involved in fitness to practise proceedings. To request my services please use The Intermediary Cooperative’s TiCiT service and select ‘other intermediary services’.
