Lest we forget, there exist these two documents regarding (in part) interpreters used within the NHS, and primary care mental health services for deaf people. If any Deaf person were to consider complaining, for example, these documents would be good things to point out.

Click the above images to go to their respective sources.

If you do wish to complain, you can share your experience with the Care Quality Commission here. An easier-to-remember version of this link is 

bit.ly/complaincqc

To make a formal complaint follow the advice on this page.

I am delighted to report that the restrictions to my interpreting practice, due to my career break, are now lifted, having been evaluated and approved by an A1 Assessor. I can't express how delighted I am not to have to keep explaining what that meant.

A huge thanks to everybody who has helped - the Deaf people who have provided me with opportunities and given freely of their time, the hearing people who have also allowed me to film, and the interpreters who have variously provided guidance and advice over the last couple of months. I'm reluctant to name people online, but you know who you are.

These are the limitations to my interpreting work that I must apply until I can find an A1 Assessor to sign me off. From the NRCPD:

We can restrict a regulated communication professional's practice if we need to. This will generally be because the professional is undertaking compulsory skills and knowledge updating to join or rejoin the profession after a period of absence....

While the communication professional is subject to practice restrictions they have to limit the work they accept. They must be certain all the work they accept is safely within their competence range so they do not put themselves, or their clients at risk. On no account must they undertake work of a legal nature, which includes police and court, disciplinary meetings, consents, and contract agreements.

I am delighted to say that I am back on the NRCPD register. Happy Christmas to me! See my entry here, and for the time being (hopefully a month or two) take note of the restrictions - I will be not accepting work in the criminal justice system, mental health settings or social care with legal content. Feel free to consider me for anything, but I will not be accepting assignments that lie outside of my official competence for a while.

That said - I am back! Hooray!

I was forwarded this today:

New Family Court rules - Vulnerable persons: participation in proceedings and giving evidence

These new rules, The Family Procedure (Amendment No.3) Rules 2017, and Practice Direction 3AA, came into effect on Monday, 27 November 2017. They set out a court's duty to consider how a party can participate in the proceedings (other than by way of giving evidence) and how a party or a witness can best give evidence. 

Previously, these matters were pretty much left to the discretion of individual judges and how much effort was made by the lawyers (on both sides) to identify vulnerability and to adapt procedures to enable the person to participate fully and to give their best evidence.

Now, all courts are required to think about these matters, so the lawyers (on both sides) will have to apply their minds to the issues at the earliest stage. The court can then make Participation Directions and adjust things such as the structure and timing of the hearing, the formality of the language to be used, the way in which cross-examination takes place etc. Good news!

The Rules and Practice Direction can be found here 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1033/made/data.pdf

https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family/practice_directions/practice-direction-3aa-vulnerable-persons-participation-in-proceedings-and-giving-evidence

The ruling applies to "vulnerable" people, but I think the ruling can be applied to Deaf BSL users in court - see the definitions in paragraph 3A.7. part b) i) - who might not consider themselves, or be considered to be "vulnerable" beyond the requirement for appropriate interpreter support.

Of course it definitely applies to vulnerable Deaf people for whom appropriate interpreter support may be necessary but not sufficient for true access to the proceedings.

I am not a lawyer, but this is definitely one to watch.

I run every Saturday at Parke parkrun in Bovey Tracey. Parkruns are entirely voluntary and so there is no budget for interpreters if they are needed. I am happy to run at Parke, Exeter Riverside, Killerton (Update: or Exmouth) parkruns and interpret the run briefing for free for any Deaf runners if that is needed. 

If you are Deaf and require access to the run briefing at any of these Parkruns, just ask via this contact form.