The Intermediary Cooperative (TIC) is the latest organisation to partner with Today’s Family Lawyer, aiming to raise its profile with the growing readership; the not-for-profit social enterprise provides high quality HMCTS Appointed Intermediary services across England and Wales.
A misunderstood, and undervalued service, intermediary services ensure court users who require additional communication support, have the right access to specialist support. And by extension enable them to effectively participate in the justice system.
The role of the intermediary was explored in a Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast when current TIC Chair Paula Backen joined host David Opie to discuss the role. Critically, says Backen, an intermediary is not an advocate or an expert witness; their role is simply to enable court users with communication challenges to understand the proceedings.
Typically, individuals who have cognitive difficulties, a learning disability, mental health needs, and/or a neuro-developmental condition would be eligible for intermediary services. Instances in which an intermediary may be required include a person with difficulties with literacy, someone who struggles with their social use of language or their speech, has difficulty regulating their emotions or have challenges with attention, listening or concentration.
All TIC’s intermediaries are experienced communication professionals and come from a wide range of backgrounds including Speech and Language Therapy, Teaching, Social Work, Law, Psychology and Mental Health Nursing.
Explains Backen
“The justice system is incredibly opaque and a lot of the legal terminology used is highly complex, but many people who find themselves in our courts are extremely vulnerable. An experienced intermediary can make the difference between someone being able to participate effectively in our justice system or being a bystander.
“Our legal system is incredibly traditional whereas intermediaries are to a certain extent the new kids on the block and our role is to help vulnerable people who find themselves in the court system gain fair access to justice.
“Having the right communication support can make the difference between whether someone pleads guilty or not guilty or gets to tell their story to a court. The role of the intermediary is an impartial one and we are all about the process not the outcome.”
These and other themes will be explored at the TIC Annual Conference, which takes place at the University of Liverpool School of Law & Social Justice on Friday, June 27. To book your place visit https://theintermediarycooperative.co.uk/conference/
The podcast with Paula is available to listen to on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and other online podcast providers. It is also available on the Today’s Family Lawyer website.
Today’s Family Lawyer launched in 2019 with the ambition to provide the very latest daily news, insight, and best practice for family professionals. The publication is one of three serving the legal services community alongside Today’s Conveyancer and Today’s Wills and Probate. Through it’s daily news output, shared on the website and on social media, and the free weekly e-newsletter out every Thursday, family law professionals are kept informed of what is happening in their community.
