Intermediaries Working with Mental Health in Justice Settings

IfJ CPD Courses

Course Facilitator(s)

Sarah Cocco and Lucy Archinal-Hudson

Course Facilitator(s) Bio

Sarah Cocco (she/her/hers) is a Senior Intermediary at the ACT Human Rights Commission (Canberra, Australia). Sarah been an accredited intermediary since January 2020 and is a registered lawyer in the ACT.

In 2024, Sarah was formally recognised by the Western Australian Attorney General for her contributions to the implementation of the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023 (WA), including the development of the Western Australian Communication Partner Program.

Sarah’s previous tertiary studies in psychology and criminology and her interest in law intersect well with her passion for intermediary work and ensuring the justice system is accessible and as flexible as is possible to accommodate individual needs.

 

Lucy Archinal-Hudson is a clinical psychologist based in Australia. She has worked with clients across many contexts including private practice, education, forensic settings, and out-of-home care. She has a special interest in working with neurodivergent clients and neuroaffirming care, following her own late-diagnosis. She is on the board of a women’s charity and is an accredited supervisor for early career psychologists.

Who is this course for?

1. Qualified Intermediaries who would like to understand more about the subject to enhance their work with vulnerable people. At any level of experience, from newly registered onwards. 2. Other criminal justice professionals 3. Professionals seeking to apply to be an Intermediary

Description

Course Content: 

By the end to the course participants will have:

1. Considered different perspectives on what constitutes mental health and mental ill-health.
2.  Improved knowledge of some prevalent psychiatric diagnoses from the ICD-10 and DSM 5 and their impact upon communication.
3. Considerations related to diagnostic labels and the use of language in engagements.
4. Explored the fundamental nature of emotional co-regulation and self-regulation to mental health and communication.
5. Considered some perspectives of people diagnosed/impacted upon by mental health conditions.
6. Improved knowledge of the main groups of psychiatric medication and their impact upon communication.
7. Improved understanding of complex presentations: co-morbidity, concurrent mental health conditions, addiction issues and/or learning difficulties/disabilities, and ‘personality disorders’.
8. A better understanding of how to address safeguarding concerns in relation to mental health.
9. Explored approaches to assessing the impact of mental ill-health and emotional dysregulation on communication.
10. Increased confidence in writing up assessment findings and recommendations for adjustments to support effective participation.
11. Explored a range of case studies of witnesses with mental health issues.

Course Aims/Objectives: 

The course will:

1. Build participants’ knowledge and understanding in:

• Mental health
• Impact of mental health on communication

2. Build participants’ confidence in working with vulnerable witnesses whose communication is impacted by MH.

It will not, in itself, equip participants to take on mental health cases.

Course Method:

The workshop is run in the form of a small group training. The presenters will present information and will invite high levels of participation and sharing of knowledge and ideas. Prepared slides/handouts guide the process rather than impart information.

The following materials are provided:

• Powerpoint presentations
• Guidance for further reading-Bibliography

- Participants to log on 15 minutes prior to start of each session. - It is required that all participants keep their cameras on throughout the workshop. - Participants to complete online feedback form post workshop.

Cancellation Policy

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