The National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) has announced its intention to seek statutory regulation of communication and language professionals.
The work towards statutory regulation will build on recent developments, such as the new Code of Conduct and complaints processwhich have also been published today. The statement explains what NRCPD intends to do and who they will work with to do it.
Statutory regulation will protect the public by making it illegal for an unregistered interpreter for deafblind people, lipspeaker, notetaker, sign language interpreter, sign language translator or speech to text reporter to practise.
NRCPD is holding open meetings to discuss its plans. They encourage deaf and deafblind people, organisations that rely on the services of communication and language professionals, and their Registrants to attend. NRCPD will appreciate it if you tell them if you are going to go to one of the meetings.
- Edinburgh: 6 January, 6-8 pm, Holyrood Room, John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh First, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AY
- Manchester: 11January, 6-8pm, James Herriot Main Hall, Manchester Deaf Centre, Crawford House, Booth St East, Manchester, M13 9GH.
- London: 14 January 6-8 pm, Seminar Room 2, Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PA
Those unable to attend one of the meetings can send their comments to NRCPD. NRCPD is also happy to attend group meetings to talk about the statement.
The aim of statutory regulation is supported by Action on Hearing Loss, the British Deaf Association, the National Deaf Children’s Society and the Royal Association for Deaf People. In a 2014 survey, 67 per cent of communication and language professionals, and 83 per cent of agencies that supply them, also said they supported the aim.
NRCPD currently raises standards and protects the public by holding and promoting voluntary Registers. They check professionals are properly trained to do their job safely and consistently.
If they meet the standard of education and training we think is needed, they can apply to be on a Register. To stay on a Register they also have to do what the Code of Conduct says they have to.
If those standards aren’t met, the professional can be removed from a Register. However, currently there is nothing to stop them from continuing to practise.
Huw Vaughan Thomas, the chair of NRCPD, said: “The Board of NRCPD believes statutory regulation is the natural next step towards our mission of protecting the public.
“It is a long term aim, which is why we haven’t set a timescale. To achieve it we have to make changes to the way we do things to make sure we are as effective as possible.
“We have begun that process; we have changed the composition of our Board, will soon be publishing a new Code of Conduct and complaints process, and we will be consulting about the requirements for trainee sign language interpreters.
“We also need to make sure we don’t stop people finding the support they need. For example, the number of interpreters for deafblind people remains low, so we won’t be rushing into anything.
“We therefore look forward to speaking to our regulated Trainees and Registrants, and the individuals and organisations who rely on their services, about our plans.”
The Limping Chicken is the UK’s deaf blogs and news website, and is the world’s most popular deaf blog.
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, or sign a blog for us by clicking here! Or just email thelimpingchicken@gmail.com.
Make sure you never miss a post by finding out how to follow us, and don’t forget to check out what our supporters provide:
- Phonak: innovative technology and products in hearing acoustics
- Ai-Live: Live captions and transcripts
- Bellman: hearing loss solutions
- Deaf Umbrella: sign language interpreting and communications support
- Clarion: BSL/English interpreting and employment services
- Appa: Communication services for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing people
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- 121 Captions: captioning and speech-to-text services
- Doncaster School for the Deaf: education for Deaf children
- Signworld: online BSL learning and teaching materials
- Sign Solutions:, language and learning
- Sign Lingual: BSL interpreting and communication services
- Action Deafness Communications: sign language and Red Dot online video interpreting
- SDHH: Project Development and Consultancy
- Mykasoft: Deaf-run Web Design Studio
- BSLcourses.co.uk: Provider of online BSL courses
- deafPLUS: Money advice line in BSL
- Hamilton Lodge School in Brighton: education for Deaf children
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- RAD: financial advice for Deaf people
- Krazy Kat: visual theatre with BSL
- Exeter Deaf Academy: education for Deaf children
- SignHealth: healthcare charity for Deaf people
- CJ Interpreting: communication support in BSL
Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:
The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf journalist, screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.
Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.
The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:
- BSL Zone: TV programmes in BSL for the Deaf community
- Deaf Umbrella: what support is available for deaf students?
- Bellman & Symfon: home alerting solutions, including the mobile phone transceiver!
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- SignHealth: check out the BSL health library
- 999 BSL: call 999 in an emergency, in BSL
- Appa: Looking for RSLIs, TSLIs and CSWs, apply here!
- Signly: Adding BSL to websites
- Signworld: Learn BSL online!
- DCAL: world-class research into deafness, cognition and language
- Action Deafness: “A Deaf-Led Charity” – interpreting & community support services
- Sign Solutions: Instant access to Interpreters, training and BSL translation nationwide
- InterpretersLive: On demand BSL video interpretation
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- BID: Deaf services, including advice and support, interpreting, employment and letters
- Performance Interpreting: BSL interpreting at concerts
- National Deaf Children's Society: The leading charity for deaf children
Cathy
November 23, 2015
Hmmm I wonder if this kind of regulation is going to make interpreting more expensive?
Is such regulation going to stop Deaf people finding a cheaper interpreter?
I know an interpreter who is not fully qualified but who only works in places like theatres and shows and is very good. Jobs such as in hospital and courts are not undertaken due to not being fully qualified. Will this area be affected?
I cannot help feeling that things are being made inadvertently worse for Deaf people, rather than improved as more regulation and hence red tape, usually means more expense!
If extra costs are involved in this further development then it is not going to bode well for the deaf community, less still the deafblind.
We already battle discrimination and this is mainly due to the spiralling costs of interpreters. Service providers are obliged to pay but many are reluctant or can’t afford it, which leaves deaf people floundering with discrimination cases! Such cases are also “wrapped in loopholes” so a case cannot be brought against anyone!
This report states that such regulation helps the public, how so? It is the deaf community that needs help and support, not the public.
It is vital that any further red tape of any kind serves the Deaf and Deafblind community first and the public second! After all “the public” are NOT bending over backwards to accommodate deaf peoples lives regardless of whether or not the interpreter is qualified or registered!
Davito
November 23, 2015
problem is interpretors charge too much £30-£35ph!! meaning a day is £300 easily and thats only 1 interpretor
pennybsl
November 23, 2015
There are very serious issues needing clarification and resolution before the NCRPD achieves regulation status.
The following comments are not entirely my own, they are assimilated from the concerns of many Deaf Professionals and our hearing LSPs (Language Service Professionals) and allies.
1. NCRPD – independence
Deaf Professionals had a meeting with Signature in late 2014, expressing opinions about the ‘too close relationship’ of NCRPD with Signature. The concerns were real since the loss of permanent Deaf staff within Signature some years previously and the lack of genuine Deaf-inclusive leadership.
This has not been helped lately with the following comments, below.
2. National Framework – Interpreting
The Government is proposing this framework which is more biased towards spoken languages. A good blog gives these concerns and details: https://interpretingsigns.wordpress.com/tag/national-framework-agreement/
http://ccs-agreements.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/files/Tender_docs/Language%20Services%20RM1092%20Contract%20Notice.pdf
We need NCRPD not only be independent and impartial, but also be flexible and supportive of Deaf-led preferred good practice and strategies in the process.
We Deaf people deserves such consideration in those issues, otherwise the majority of costs go to agencies, making many, many ‘hearing services’ pockets fatter.
We who use ATW BSL access would lose out enormously if the process is allowed without reasonable amendments.
3. ATW Guidance – recent issue
See paragraphs 521-526.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467363/access-to-work-staff-guide.pdf
The table showing recommendations is clear evidence of the lack of proper consultation/consideration with Deaf Professionals in the workplace, especially in sensitive areas and with vulnerable people.
Team meetings are highly varied, most require the skills of RSLIs especially where voice-overs are needed. Communication in professional settings are TWO-WAY, the Deaf Professional has a ‘voice’ in such meetings.
We Deaf professionals and our hearing allies are concerned at the selective ‘favour-ism’ in paragraphs 523 and 525 which imply that Signature is the only UK examination board for interpreting qualifications. The omission of OFQUAL-approved BSL interpreting qualifications by iBSL and Universities demands answers concerning impartiality and transparency.
Those comments are already known to many professionals – hence the genuine need for independence and transparency if NCRPD is to become a regulator.