What background and training must a person have to be listed as a statement support person for victims of sex offences?
General information · Not legal advice
Material to check
In a practice file of this kind, we read the paper showing what field the person studied or worked in and for how long, the certificate showing completion of the training the Minister of Justice prescribed, and any assignment paper placing a support person with a victim in a case.
These are types of material to look for, not evidence already verified by PRO SE.
Where readings differ
One reading reads the paragraph as setting two conditions together: the person must have specialist knowledge in mental health psychiatry, psychology, social welfare, education or a similar field relating to the psychology or communication of children and persons with disabilities, or have worked in a related field for a substantial period, and must also have completed the training the Minister of Justice prescribes.
Another reading notes what the paragraph does not fix: it leaves to a Ministry of Justice decree the details of qualification, training and assignment, and it sets no measure for what counts as a 'substantial period' of work, so the register alone may not show that each listed person meets the background condition.
Your judgment
If the file shows only the training certificate, what further paper would show that the person's field of work satisfies the background condition?
PRO SE does not make this decision or keep a case record on this public site.When to reconsider
We look at this again if the Ministry of Justice decree or the training the Minister of Justice prescribes changes the qualification conditions, or if a court decision explains when a background outside the listed fields counts as related.