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Our advice service

Are you a parent, kinship carer relative or friend of a child who is involved with, or who needs the help of, children’s services in England? We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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By phone or email

To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.

Discuss on our forums

Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.

Advice on our website

Our get help and advice section has template letters, advice sheets and resources about legal and social care processes. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you can use our webchat service to chat online to an adviser.

 

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Intermediary

An intermediary helps parents, children or other family members to understand information and to communicate. They are sometimes referred to as ‘communication specialists’ and become involved to help someone understand court proceedings. And help them to take part fully.

Intermediaries becoming involved in the Family Court

This happens when the Family Court has reason to think a party or witness is vulnerable. This is because someone’s vulnerability can affect their ability to understand information. And to share their own thoughts, feelings and information in a clear way.

The court may view someone as vulnerable for different reasons. Examples include where someone is the victim of domestic abuse. Or where they have a learning disability. But whether someone needs an intermediary will depend on the precise situation.

The court can pay for an intermediary to help someone at court. And pay for an intermediary to help someone prepare for court.

Examples of how an intermediary can help someone prepare for court are:

  • Help the person to understand and communicate in meetings between the person and their lawyer
  • Helping someone understand documents and share their thoughts and feelings on what the documents say
  • Ensure they understand what further court hearings there are and what the court will be deciding at them.

Intermediaries where there are no court proceedings

Sometimes, a person might benefit from having the help of an intermediary where there are no court proceedings. For example, when they are having meetings with children’s services. They can help the person to understand and communicate during meetings. And help with understanding any documents.

If there are no court proceedings, the court won’t pay for the costs of an intermediary. They cost will need to be covered in another way. For example, children’s services can be asked if they will agree to pay for an intermediary to help.

Finding an intermediary

If you have a solicitor, you can ask them to help find an intermediary. If there are court proceedings but a solicitor is not involved, the court may be able to share information about how to find an intermediary.

Children’s services, or other practitioners working with you or your child, might also be able to help you find an intermediary.

The law and guidance about intermediaries come from different places. This includes case law, which is decisions made by senior judges in different cases, and local guidance from individual judges.

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