21 November 2022
Dear Registrants and Regulated Trainees,
This year has seen a lot of changes within the NRCPD team, our procedures and how we operate, and so we have some updates for you.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Hawthorn, left us at the end of last month and we are in the process of recruiting his replacement and will be able to give you an update on this soon. As a short term measure, we have appointed Theresa Thomas-Morton as Interim Operations Director and Hilary Maxwell-Hyslop as Registrar. For further information, please see:
On other related matters, our trustee recruitment drive continues and we hope to recruit up to four new trustees soon.
Over the summer, we held a public consultation about our newly improved and revised Professional Conduct Complaints procedure. This procedure came into force on Tuesday 1st November 2022 and can be found here: www.nrcpd.org.uk/documents/pdfs/NRCPD-PC-Complaints-procedure-Nov-2022-final.pdf
There is also a revised Code of Conduct coming which will come into effect for everyone in November 2023. For further information, please see: www.nrcpd.org.uk/NRCPD-updates.php?article=290.
As you may be aware, we have been developing professional practice and ethical guidance to assist registrants and regulated trainees in maintaining the standards of practice. Early 2023 will see us publishing the following guidance:
In addition to the above, the following guidance will also be published:
For further information, please see: www.nrcpd.org.uk/NRCPD-updates.php?article=280.
We have been very involved in various working groups as of late, such as the Ministry of Justice Language Services Pipeline Working Group which focuses on policy development and communicating the requirements for registration, and our 'Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion' Advisory Group which had its first meeting on 9th November 2022. We have also made progress with the 'Registered Interpreters for Deafblind People' working group which will be meeting monthly going forwards.
Work continues with our engagement with the UK Deaf communities to raise awareness of NRCPD and we have recently had events with Manchester Deaf Centre and Deaf Roots charity, including exhibiting and presenting at both the European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (EFSLI) and VLP's 'Storytelling' conferences. The new year will also see us presenting on NRCPD to West London's Deaf community in Hounslow.
If you have any questions about the above, please get in touch with us at: enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk.
With many thanks,
NRCPD.
It has come to our attention that you may need clarification about whether Regulated Trainees are permitted to undertake remote interpreting assignments.
Current Best Practice guidance considers VRS assignments (on-demand remote interpreting) to be suitable for RSLI/RSLTs who are a minimum of three years post-qualification. As the UK national regulator of language service professionals, we fully support this view. The last minute (and potential emergency) nature of VRS poses risks to all parties involved and only registered, qualified and experienced Sign Language Interpreters and Translators should accept this type of work.
Regarding VRI, (pre-planned and assigned Video Remote Interpreting Services) we recognise that Covid-19 has changed the landscape of this provision, and for some people, this may be their preferred method of receiving interpreting services.
VRI assignments are usually planned and often reflect (as far as is possible) face-to-face assignments such as remote meetings and training. As with all assignments, TSLI/TSLTs should ensure that they have sufficient time and information to assess their competency and suitability for the assignment. If you have assessed both your competency and suitability as being appropriate and sufficient to take on the assignment, you, as a TSLI/TSLT, may consider yourself safe to provide interpreting services remotely.
However, as with any other assignment, if you find that the skills required are beyond your competency; or the demands placed on you outweigh the controls you have in your professional knowledge and experience, you should take affirmative action in communicating this, and if necessary, leave the assignment. In circumstances such as this, we recommend that you engage with your Supervisor and reflect on the assignment.
We have also recently moved offices as our previous landlord went into administration. In case you missed our communications about this, our new address is:
NRCPD,
Portland House,
Belmont Business Park,
Durham DH1 1TW.
On the NRCPD Registers as of the end of October 2022, we have:
Registered Sign Language Interpreters: 1411
Regulated Trainee Sign Language Interpreters: 236
Registered Sign Language Translators: 33
Regulated Trainee Sign Language Translators: 19
Lipspeakers: 47
Speech to Text Reporters: 33
Electronic Notetakers: 8
Manual Notetakers: 3
Interpreters for Deafblind People: 12
