Guidelines for Working with British Sign Language / English Interpreters in Mental Health Settings

Working in partnership with Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust

(RDaSH), Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust (SHSC) and South West Yorkshire

Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SWYFT).

Guidance for Practitioners engaging with Deaf clients who use sign language

If you are planning sessions with a Deaf client, this leaflet outlines some good practice guidelines to help you to work more effectively with interpreters. If you are unsure or want further advice please contact the South Yorkshire Service for Deaf People.

Planning your session

• Contact the CPN for Deaf People with Mental Health Needs to discuss joint working

• When planning your session, allocate extra time – ideally 30 minutes - immediately before and after your session to brief and debrief the interpreter

• When contacting your interpreting provider, request an interpreter who is NRCPD registered and is MRSLI status for your appointment. A MRSLI with mental health experience is preferable or an experienced (not newly qualified MRSLI. There is a shortage of BSL English Interpreters so be flexible with dates, where possible

• Ask the interpreting agency to forward your e-mail address and telephone number so the interpreter can contact you to discuss your session

• If you need to undertake a piece of work over a number of sessions, request

that the agency book a MRSLI who can attend all appointments for continuity

• If you are undertaking a home visit, arrange to meet the interpreter outside the home

• Check your organisation’s interpreter policy. If you are unsure, contact the South Yorkshire Service for Deaf People with Mental Health Needs.

Pre-session briefing

• Check the interpreter’s NRCPD badge

Discuss:

the aims of your session

risk factors (if known) including the risk management plan, e.g. what to do if the client becomes agitated or deteriorates

• Explore strategies to highlight aspects of communication or behaviour that deviate from cultural norms

• Clarify any jargon, check shared understanding of mental health terminology and medical language to be used. Explore how concepts and questions will be conveyed from a spoken into a visual language (BSL) and vice versa.

During the SessionClinician role

• Allow regular breaks, e.g. 5 minutes break per 30 minutes interpreting, using natural breaks where appropriate

• Discuss issues at the end of breaks/after

2 | Guidelines for working with BSL / English Interpreters in Mental Health Settings

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the session, not in front of the client

• Use accessible language, avoid the use of jargon and modify language

• Speak directly to the client NOT to the interpreter

• Do not leave the interpreter alone with the client

• Use open questions and ask clients to feedback to ensure understanding.

Interpreter role

• Inform the clinician:

if you do not understand the client or you are uncertain

if the client does not appear to understand you during the interpreting process

if you feel the client is having difficulty understanding the concepts being discussed. Suggest alternative ways of phrasing questions

• Any odd or repetitive use of language must be interpreted as near to the source message. Trying to change client’s utterances into acceptable English may mask symptoms of language disorder, dysfluency or psychosis

• Accept that other professionals in the session may have a better understanding of what the client is signing

• Use first person when interpreting but this may change to third person when translating complex concepts, idiosyncratic signing or derogatory remarks

• Work according to the NRCPD Code of Conduct & ASLI guidelines for working in mental health, including confidentiality.

If at any point pre-, during or post-session if risk to self or others is disclosed, the interpreter must inform the clinician immediately

• Do NOT offer clinical advice to the client.

Post-Session• The clinician should debrief with the

interpreter, especially if distressing material has been discussed

• Offer the interpreter opportunity for feedback about language or communication, e.g. any idiosyncratic language used, use of signing space, speed or unusual features of signing

• Clarify any communication difficulties

• Discuss any concerns such as transference.

Contact

Rebecca Walls Clinical Nurse Specialist in Mental Health and Deafness South Yorkshire Service for Deaf People with Mental Health Needs

Mob: 07770 828452 E-mail: rebeccawalls@nhs.net

This information is correct at the time of publishing Last Reviewed: April 2017

geta p p r o v e d

DP6476/04.17

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