An open letter has been sent to Francis Maude MP signed by over 1000 people asking for the national framework agreement for language services, which is currently being drafted, is scrapped.
The letter is signed by a number of MPs, sign language interpreters, and people from a range of deaf and disability organisations.
Here is the letter:
We, the undersigned, are writing to request that the national framework agreement for language services (interpreting and translation) currently being drafted by the Crown Commercial Services is scrapped with immediate effect, as we believe it is not fit for purpose.
The intended outcome of the framework agreement – to save money and ensure quality provision – cannot possibly be achieved.
Deaf people have already endured months of uncertainty and poorly administered services as a result of the ill-informed changes made to Access to Work.
These changes were made with no consultation and demonstrated a clear lack of understanding of the industry or of how interpreters work. Deaf people’s jobs were placed at significant risk.
The issues identified by the Work and Pension Select Committee who held an inquiry into Access to Work can be read here, you will note that viable solutions were offered:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/ cmselect/cmworpen/481/ Whilst jobs being placed at risk is a serious issue, the consequences of a framework which covers areas such as health, mental health, social services including child protection and other safeguarding areas could be far worse.
Without qualified interpreters, clinicians and other professionals cannot complete their work safely. The risks to the Deaf community are unimaginable. We could, without exaggeration, be talking about loss of life and liberty.
Following on from the disastrous consequences of changes made to Access to Work provision as well as issues of unqualified people being used as interpreters, the BSL interpreting profession is in a state of decline.
Almost half of all NRCPD registered interpreters responded to a survey by NUBSLI recently. The results showed that 48% of respondents are thinking about leaving the profession. A considerably depleted workforce would, as in any market, drive fees upwards.
To de-professionalise the industry would have a detrimental effect on the Deaf community and set access levels back to those last seen twenty plus years ago.
Given that it takes on average seven years to train a competent interpreter who is safe to practice, the framework could do lasting damage to the Deaf community.
We therefore request that this work ceases and alternative solutions sought with the full consultation of the experts in this sector: the Deaf community and BSL interpreters.
Regards
#Scrap The Framework Campaign
Signed by:
Len McCluskey – General Secretary, Unite the Union
Teresa Pearce MP
Jennifer Smith – Chair, National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters (NUBSLI)
Linda Burnip – Co-Founder, Disabled People Against Cuts
Dr Terry Riley OBE – Chair, British Deaf Association (BDA)
Jenny Sealey MBE – CEO/Artistic Director Graeae Theatre Company
Nicky Evans – Stop Changes To Access To Work Campaign
Geraldine O’Halloran – Inclusion London
John McDonnell MP
Ronnie Draper – General Secretary, Bakers’ Food and Allied Workers Union
Grahame Morris MP
Michael Meacher MP
Sir Gerald Kaufman MP
Rosie Cooper MP
Richard Wilson OBE – Graeae Patron
Dame Harriet Walter DBE – Actor/Graeae Patron
Ian Hodson – National President, Bakers’, Food and Allied Workers Union
Jane Aitchison – Joint National Secretary, Unite the Resistance
Mandy Brown – UCU NEC, Branch Secretary Lambeth College
Helen Davies – Branch Chair Barnet UNISON and Social Worker
Sean Vernell – UCU
Roger Lewis – Lambeth Unison Equalities Officer (PC)
Tim O’Dell – UNISON
Mark Dunk – Unite the Resistance
Lesley Weatherson – Association of Lipspeakers
Vikki Bridson-Vice – Steering Committee, Visual Language Professionals
Alison Bryan – Chair, Deaf Access Cymru
Georgina Sullivan – Association of Notetaking Professionals
Julia Jacobie – AVSTTR
Eileen R. Ford and Amelia Naranjo – National Union of Professional Interpreters and Translators (NUPIT)
Debbie Jolly – Co-Founder, Disabled People Against Cuts
Paula Peters – Chair, Bromley Disabled People against Cuts
Ellen Clifford – Lewisham Disabled People Against Cuts
Bob Ellard – National Steering Committee, Disabled People Against Cuts
Roger Lewis, National Steering Committee, Disabled People Against Cuts
Anita Bellows – National Steering committee, Disabled People Against Cuts
Peter Llewellyn-Jones Programme Director, postgraduate programmes in Interpreting and Translation Studies
Wes Mehaffy BSL/English Interpreter
Martin Fox-Roberts BSL/English Interpreter
Jennifer Smith BSL/English Interpreter
Mariella Reina BSL/English Interpreter
Susan Billam
Gary Northfield
Clare VintonBSL/English Interpreter
Roma Parrick BSL/English Interpreter
Maria Munro BSL/English Interpreter
Adele WardBSL/English Interpreter
Bridget BreeBSL/English Interpreter
Philip Bird
Rachel O’NeillLecturer
Gloria Ogborn BSL/English Interpreter
Donna WestTrainee BSL/English Interpreter
Ali Hetherington BSL/English Interpreter
Paula FyeBSL and Deafblind Manual Interpreter
Adama Fye
Jenny North
Mike NorthDeafblind Manual Interpreter
Ron Langridge
Cathy DaveyClinical Supervisor MBACP SEN Accredited
Alison Gilchrist BSL/English Interpreter
Jennifer Dodds BSL/English Interpreter (Deaf)
Gráinne Sheehan BSL/English Interpreter and Deafblind Manual Interpreter
James Banks BSL/English Interpreter
Van HoltomBSL/English Interpreter
Simon Bristoll BSL/English Interpreter
Nicky Glegg
Louise Bodycombe BSL/English Interpreter
Ivan Osborne BSL/English Interpreter
Veronica Nanson BSL/English Interpreter
Claire Dodds BSL/English interpreter
Elizabeth Mercer BSL/English Interpreter
Diana CoadaCourt interpreter (DPSI)
Louise GoughTranslator (MITI)
Dr Zuzana Windle Legal interpreter
Hannah Watson BSL/English Interpreter
Dr Dimitra Kalantzi Translator (AITI)
Philippe Muriel (MCIL) French Interpreter (DPSI) & Translator (Dip Trans) – Interpreter Trainer
Christopher Windle
Sarah PowellClinical Psychologist
Elvire Roberts BSL/English Interpreter
Sue LeschenLegal and commercial French Interpreter
Ségolène Neilson Legal (DPSI), medical and business interpreter and translator
Rami KohliLegal (DPSI) Interpreter
Parvin Lackschewitz-Martin Legal interpreter NRPSI (BA Honours in languages)
Mihaela Patrascu Legal interpreter DPSI DPI RPSI MCIL
Emma LiptonTrainee BSL/English Interpreter
Laura OrsiniInterpreter (NRPSI) and translator
Irina NortonConference and Public Service Interpreter/translator
Sarah MartinTrainee interpreter
Eileen Ford
Yasemin Kafali Legal interpreter (NRPSI)
Mark WestBSL/English Interpreter
Rebecca Hinks
Dan Sumners (@sumnersdan)
March 3, 2015
Did the letter give any reasons why the framework agreement is not fit for purpose, cannot achieve its intended outcome and will have such a serious negative impact?
pennybsl
March 3, 2015
It is important to start a proper professional & user dialogue of the process because so much has been steamrolled by the present Government without ANY regard to the Equality Act 2010.
Spoken Language professionals were confronted by a similar Framework Agreement imposed upon them without due consultation, too.
NUBSLI
March 3, 2015
Hi Dan
We have already seen that large frameworks do not achieve the desired effect. The MoJ framework for interpreting is still not achieving it’s targets four years on. The problems with Access to Work show what happens when Deaf people and interpreters are not consulted.
Additionally:
It is not robust enough or fit for purpose because, in its current form the framework i) allows for trainee interpreters to undertake assignments they are unlikely to be adequately skilled for eg. Mental Health, Child protection. ii) It lists Hands On interpreting under the section entitled ‘Video Interpreting’ and there are other errors in the document which show a lack of understanding.
The framework cannot achieve it’s intended outcome of ensuring quality and saving money because the pricing structure for interpreters is based on an hourly rate and 2 hour minimums. Additionally, agencies will not be obliged to pay interpreters any travel expenses. These two factors mean that qualified, experienced interpreters are unlikely to be able to afford to take work under the framework. This will lead to a fall in standards. We have already seen evidence many interpreters are thinking about leaving the profession (NUBSLI survey, 48% of a total of 485 respondents).
The impact on the community will be negative as choice and control will be removed for the Deaf person and for the reasons outlined above.
NUBSLI
Cathy
March 4, 2015
NUBSLI what does MOJ mean? And what are the “targets” for an Interpreter? I never knew they had “targets!”
I can understand your reservations about trainee interpreters undertaking mental health issues etc, but how else are they supposed to learn and make progress in the profession otherwise?
I have used many Interpreters over the years and believe you me they are not all as good as each other even when they have level 6!!
As I do not fully understand what exactly is wrong with this National Framework I shant be signing it. It is not explained in full here.
We have had problems for many years not least since teaching of BSL changed its own “framework” from: “stages” to “levels” and changed the numbers from 3 to 6 to give BSL professional status and look where we are now!?
We have a system that is mainly totally unaffordable especially for deaf people who would like to pay an Interpreter themselves in order to join hearing groups such as ” Creative Writing” groups or a book club etc.
Iam not surprised at the cutbacks as the cost is prohibitive unless the Government are paying for it and even they are balking at it all!!!