A county council’s job advert for an unqualified interpreter has led to an outcry on social media this morning.
The zero hours job involves working in the council’s ASSIST department, which deals with autism and sensory support for “vulnerable” young people over the age of 16.
Staffordshire County Council’s job advert, which also appears on a Deaf jobs website, explains that although the job is for an unqualified BSL interpreter, the person will be expected to carry out interpreting duties:
We are looking for unqualified British Sign Language interpreters to work within the ASSIST team. Hours will vary. You will provide interpreting and translation services for internal and external partners as required in a variety of settings as appropriate. You may also contribute to the delivery of Deaf Awareness training provided by the service.
The job description gives more details on the kind of interpreting the person would be expected to do. Among the duties is this requirement:
Undertake interpreting internally for everyday liaison with members of staff (with the exception of legal and quasi-judicial contexts; in particular where legal documentation has to be completed. This may include Social Care and certain Health settings, in particular where some forms of consent is required). Unqualified interpreters will not be expected to do platform/conference interpreting.
The council also have an advert for a Communication Support Worker “to provide curriculum access, support and empower people with a sensory loss/Autism Spectrum condition in educational and community settings and be involved in all areas of the curriculum.”
The advert says: “We would particularly welcome applicants who have Level 2 British Sign Language (and above) or equivalent or with experience of autism spectrum conditions.”
It also says: “We would particularly welcome applicants who have Level 2 British Sign Language (and above) or equivalent or with experience of autism spectrum conditions.”
Terry Riley, Chair of the British Deaf Association, said:
“I am astounded that a statutory local authority would even contemplate hiring a non qualified person to be employed and to function as a sign language interpreter on such complex issues. This is a breach of the United Nations Convention of Human Rights for People with Disabilities and I also add it’s discrimination on the most blatant scale to deny anyone full and meaningful interpretation. No other languages would be treated like this. The BDA fully support the principle that only quailified and registered sign language interpreters be used.”
Jim Edwards, Chief Executive of NRCPD, said:
“Sign language interpreters are either trainees or qualified. Looking at the role description this seems to be an advert for a Communication Support Worker. Unfortunately there’s been an injudicious use of language by the Council so we will be following it up with them.”
Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:
“We are not seeking to recruit people without knowledge or understanding of British Sign Language. The job description clearly says that any applicant must already have NVQ Level 4 British Sign Language, or equivalent, or be working towards it.
“The wording in the advert has caused confusion and we will look to amend it, but it was phrased that way in an attempt to attract people with high levels of British Sign Language, who are looking for effectively what is an apprenticeship which will bring them through to qualification and registration through teamwork, mentorship and in-house training.”
“The routes to qualification are confusing, complex, costly and involved, but Staffordshire County Council’s Support Service – ASSIST – (Autism and Sensory Support in Staffordshire) has a proven track record of employing and supporting people with BSL skills through to registration and qualification in a safe environment and it’s worth emphasising that four of our five staff interpreters qualified through this in-house route.”
He added: “ASSIST has just celebrated its 25th anniversary and has long recognised and promoted the need to have qualified and registered interpreters working with deaf and deafblind people.
“Not only are all the in-house interpreters fully-qualified and registered, so too is the manager. In addition, where the need arises, suitably qualified and registered freelance interpreters are used.”
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pennybsl
December 13, 2014
The crux of the matter is the total failure of the Government, BSL Act or not, in courteously raising the profile of BSL as a geniune community language with the same language status (grammar, translation, quality, function and social inclusion) as European & global languages used in the UK.
We need the top-heavy nods and endorsement – these won’t break the bank at all – to prevent thickheaded and blatantly ignorant authorities to walk over our Deaf Values with cheap (and potentially dangerous) ideas.
Again and again, I have said this before, if the issue was a BME or LGBT issue, all hell would break lose.
In a nutshell, authorities like Staffirdshire – God help it as the County contains many competent Deaf Professionals, who are absolutely livid – commiting a form of ‘racism’ and institutional down-grading to its Deaf ratepayers; totally INSULTING.
Tim
December 13, 2014
“Jim Edwards, Chief Executive of NRCPD, said:
“Sign language interpreters are either trainees or qualified. Looking at the role description this seems to be an advert for a Communication Support Worker. Unfortunately there’s been an injudicious use of language by the Council so we will be following it up with them.” ”
Let’s hope the council don’t just ignore you, then.
Nicky
December 13, 2014
Even putting the “mistake” aside, there remains the issue of zero hour contracts. People making themselves available for unguranteed hours of work is exploitative and damaging. This too needs to be addressed.
One of the MPs in the area, Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) is Minister for Modern Slavery. Zero hour contracts surely aren’t that far removed!
culturemediation
December 13, 2014
At the sort of pay grade no decent interpreter qualified or otherwise would even look at this job advert. How insulting to expect so much for so little. Councils to a T.
Cathy
December 14, 2014
In a nutshell, this sad tale shows up the real reason for the Council asking for someone who is an unqualified interpreter or CSW as the case may be: and that is cost!!
I remember having a problem with the Council in my area a few years back and requested an interpreter. The meeting that they had actually requested never happened; for the simple reason there was no allowance made for the cost of an interpreter! They simply couldn’t pay or wouldn’t. So this story is no real surprise!
As time goes on with Britain’s debts steadily increasing (debt stands at abt 1.5trillion) these cases are likely to increase. I can see no end to this type of problem unless qualified interpreters bring down their rates a notch.
I have always said that their costs price deaf people out of life itself and this tale more or less proves it! Interpreting work is not “back breaking” nor too difficult for those experienced at it. We need more people who are a little more altruistic to take up the profession. At least then more access could be gained in different areas in life for deaf people!
pennybsl
December 14, 2014
Deaf people working for the council have ATW.
Deaf council staff working with deaf clients – no access needed unless it is with a very oral deaf client, ATW is needed.
Hearing council staff with deaf client – the council has to foot the bill which must be in the same budget as foreign language access. The council has a responsibility – to safeguard safe and skilled translation / interpretation with its deaf clients in the absence of skilled deaf staff.
russell aldersson
December 14, 2014
Alan white doesn’t get it though. He states
“We are not seeking to recruit people without knowledge or understanding of British Sign Language. The job description clearly says that any applicant must already have NVQ Level 4 British Sign Language, or equivalent, or be working towards it”
But the issue isn’t about how skilled and fluent they are in BSL (there’s no mention of English, the forgotten language of interpreting) – the issue is they haven’t been trained to interpret. To work consecutively and simultaneously and to retain meaning and translate accurately. I can see it now. They will be at the sexual health clinic telling the deaf client that their HIV result is “Positive”
They need to be employing a qualified interpreters to work in health care and child protection settings. Mr White, how about we send your kids to a school run by unqualified teachers. Shall we get an unqualified doctor to oversee your loved one’s cancer treatment? How about untrained and unqualified nurses to run Staffordshire County Council’s intensive care wards whilst we’re at it?
You’re an idiot if you can’t see what you are doing wrong.
Russell
Liz
December 15, 2014
And whilst we’re at it……there’s no such things as an NVQ level 4 in BSL – the new level 4 qualification is a certificate and whilst there’s the option of doing an Introduction to Interpreting unit as part of it, you don’t have to and it’s only an introduction anyway. I’m not sure if the current level 4 has been around long enough for anyone to have completed the course anyway!
simon
December 17, 2014
If they are a team of terps, and all so wonderfully qualified and , then how did such an inappropriately worded advert get by them ? Did no one proof read it ?? V worrying.
Susan
January 2, 2015
I can see the various responses to the advert for interpreter put out by ASSIST. I found Alan White’s response, from the County Council, helpful in that he pointed out that it had caused some confusion but that was not the intention. I hope that you find applicants for the role – especially those who are well experienced and passionate about their work, who also wish to progress in their qualifications to become registered. I appreciate the work of ASSIST locally and have used the service myself. I hope that the deaf community will be honoured with access to experienced and registered interpreters and that organisations like ASSIST will continue their commitment to encouraging more people to train, gain experience, develop skills and become registered.
I would like to say that ASSIST has done a brilliant job over the last 25 years and work 24/7 and go an extra mile to provide their services for the deaf community. Their support and encouragement certainly helped many deaf people to be where they are today.