Good Practice Guide

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE
5. INTERPRETERS
• summarise the discussion periodically
to ensure that you and the client
share the same understanding
• ask the client to repeat what s/he
understands you to have said. If the
client does not understand, it is your
responsibility, not the interpreter's,
to explain more simply
• prior to ending the interview check
that the client has understood the
key messages of the session, and ask
if they have any questions
• once the interview has been
concluded, thank both the client
and the interpreter and say
good-bye formally
• ensure that the client departs first
while the interpreter remains behind
for a short time. This ensures that the
organised interview is appropriately
concluded, and allows for postinterview
de-brief with the interpreter.
In many languages the verb, or the
key word, is at the end of a sentence,
therefore it is important that the
client and interpreter are allowed
to finish speaking.
5.7.5 Outside venues
When an interpreter is required at a site
other than the office premises, such as
at the client's home, wherever possible
arrangements should be made for the
interpreter to arrive at the venue at the
same time, or slightly after you.
This better ensures that Occupational
Health & Safety issues for the
interpreter are minimised, and all
communications between the client
and interpreter are undertaken with
the staff member's direction.
Once the interview has been concluded
the interpreter should be requested to
leave at the same time as you.
This ensures that the organised interview
is appropriately concluded, and allows for
post-interview de-brief.
5.7.6 Interpreters in court
proceedings
It is advisable to engage interpreters
for clients whose primary language is
not English who are involved in court
proceedings. Even where the client's
level of English proficiency seems
adequate in normal day-to-day
communications, it is worth noting that
these skills may deteriorate under stress.
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