The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is seeking to engage with the market for the provision of court appointed intermediary services. These services will be provided in the courts and tribunals in England and Wales and are specifically focused on the appointment of intermediaries who can be instructed to provide an assessment of a person’s communication needs along with providing recommendations on measures that could be put in place by the court to support a vulnerable people, young people and children and other individuals who may need assistance during court proceedings.The intermediary may also be required to attend court to provide such assistance and support.

For the avoidance of doubt, the MoJ is only seeking to engage with the market in relation to intermediary services that currently fall outside the remit of the MoJ Witness Intermediary Scheme (MoJ WIS). All requests for intermediary support for witnesses in criminal cases will continue to be managed via the MoJ WIS.