[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-201045-105":53,"doc-detail-201045-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","registered-intermediaries-assessment-of-childrens-communication-an-exploration-of-aims-and-processes","Registered Intermediaries’ Assessment of Children’s Communication - An Exploration of Aims and Processes","","Registered Intermediaries assessment of children’s communication is examined through its objectives and independent working methods within legal proceedings in England and Wales. Since 2004, trained intermediaries support child witnesses, but their assessments operate independently, shaping evidential quality, child experiences, and engagement. Semi-structured interviews with 17 active Registered Intermediaries were analysed thematically, revealing six themes across constraints, key assessment elements, effectiveness mechanisms, follow-through, and barriers to development.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/registered-intermediaries-assessment-of-childrens-communication-an-exploration-of-aims-and-processes/201045/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/registered-intermediaries-assessment-of-childrens-communication-an-exploration-of-aims-and-processes/201045.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Mali","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document","2026-10-19","2026-09-04",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":8},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"Registered Intermediaries are available in England and Wales since when, and for whom?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"They have been available to assist child witness communication in legal proceedings since 2004, supporting vulnerable (and often intimidated) witnesses, including children with communication needs.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How is competency for children connected to communication in the legal process?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Competency depends on whether the child can understand questions and give answers that can be understood, so assistance may be required to meet competency requirements.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What themes emerged from interviews with experienced Registered Intermediaries?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Six main themes emerged: assessment constraints and requirements, essential elements of the assessment process, why assessment is effective, ensuring recommendations are followed through, pressures and barriers, and practice development.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},201045,1790460554,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":8,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":30},2336475104362,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/22000c4c46a41b752dd?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786595829695023868","Registered Intermediaries’ assessment of children’s communication: an exploration of aims and processes\nAbstract\nKeywords: Registered Intermediaries, children, assessment, communication.\nFollowing the implementation of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act for England and Wales Registered Intermediaries have been available to assist child witness communication in legal proceedings since 2004. Registered Intermediaries are given training to fulfil this role, however, their assessments and practices are conducted independently. This study examined Registered Intermediaries’ perceptions and experiences of this independent practice, and the impact this had on the quality of the legal process in terms of evidential quality, child witness experiences and engagement. Seventeen experienced and currently active Registered Intermediaries with a range of communication specialisms took part in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed thematically. Six main themes emerged from the data: assessment constraints and requirements, essential elements of the assessment process, why the assessment process is effective, ensuring recommendations are followed through, pressures and barriers, and practice development. The Registered Intermediaries stressed the need for further training for themselves as well as for legal professionals, and emphasised the benefits of working as a team throughout the assessment and legal process.\nMany vulnerable witnesses will be involved in legal proceedings. Whilst Bull (2010) states that there is no generally agreed definition of the term ‘vulnerable’, there is a focus on vulnerable groups such as children and those with learning disabilities. On an individual level Gudjonsson (2006) defines vulnerabilities as ‘psychological characteristics or mental state which render a witness prone, in certain circumstances, to providing information that is inaccurate, unreliable or misleading’ (p.68). Gudjonsson (2010) states that vulnerabilities do not necessarily equate with unreliability in witnesses but may present as a ‘risk factor’ for which assessment is required, and, if necessary, the witness must be provided with specialised assistance in order to meet competency requirements. In relation to the competency requirements for children, the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act for England and Wales (The Stationery Office, 1999) states that a child is not competent to give evidence if it appears to the court that s/he is not able to ‘understand questions put to him as a witness’, and ‘give answers to them, which can be understood’ (Section 53[3]). This places the emphasis for competency on the child’s ability to communicate at a sufficient level of understanding, for which assistance may be required (Marchant, 2013). The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act for England and Wales includes provision for appropriate assistance in the form of ‘special measures’. The special measures available to vulnerable (or intimidated) witnesses include: the use of screens in court, the use of video recorded interviews as evidence-in-chief, use of live TV link for cross-examination, removal of wigs and gowns of legal professionals, and also confers eligibility for assistance in communication, through use of an intermediary and/or other communication aids.\nSection 104 of the Coroners and Justice Act for England and Wales (The Stationery Office, 2009), states that intermediaries may assist vulnerable defendants’ communication needs (Cooper & Wurtzel, 2013; Criminal practice Directions 3D.2w 2019; see O’Mahony, 2009). At present this section has not yet been implemented though a judge may use his or her inherent jurisdiction to appoint an intermediary to a vulnerable defendant. Those intermediaries who work with defendants do so as non-registered intermediaries. Intermediaries who work with vulnerable witnesses are trained and accredited via the Ministry of Justice and are known as Registered Intermediaries (RI). The role of","cbCaij0qKPieYv2F","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaij0qKPieYv2F","docx",92893,47,"English","# Abstract\n# Keywords\n## Registered Intermediaries: role and legal framework\n## Definitions of vulnerability and competency requirements\n## Assessment process: aims, constraints, and effectiveness\n## Ensuring recommendations and supporting practice development","[{\"question\":\"Registered Intermediaries are available in England and Wales since when, and for whom?\",\"answer\":\"They have been available to assist child witness communication in legal proceedings since 2004, supporting vulnerable (and often intimidated) witnesses, including children with communication needs.\"},{\"question\":\"How is competency for children connected to communication in the legal process?\",\"answer\":\"Competency depends on whether the child can understand questions and give answers that can be understood, so assistance may be required to meet competency requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"What themes emerged from interviews with experienced Registered Intermediaries?\",\"answer\":\"Six main themes emerged: assessment constraints and requirements, essential elements of the assessment process, why assessment is effective, ensuring recommendations are followed through, pressures and barriers, and practice development.\"}]","Registered Intermediaries’ Assessment of Children’s Communication - An Exploration of Aims and Processes | DOCX",1788516810]