Using Interpreters Wisely

At Booking Time

Book a face-to-face interpreter as soon as you know that your client requires one. Don't wait until the last day, if you know in advance! However, in an emergency situation where life or liberty could be at risk, you can book a face-to-face interpreter at any time, any day of the week. It is worth a try.

Arrange sessions with face-to-face interpreters, including British Sign Language interpreters and lipspeakers to take place during normal working time hours, if possible.

If you can be flexible about your appointment you are more likely to get a local interpreter. This will be more cost-effective.

Use the Language Line telephone service for your first response if you need a foreign language interpreter. Use it to make further appointment dates, and to explain clearly to the client, customer or patient that by booking a planned appointment you can offer them a face to face interpreter at a time convenient to both of you.

For very rare languages, you may be offered the services of an interpreter coming from outside the County. If so, would it be more cost-effective to use a telephone interpreter or does the situation require the use of a face-to-face interpreter ? It may be more cost effective to arrange a whole telephone interview rather than bringing an interpreter from further away - get a cost comparison.

Ask CINTRA or HITs for a locally based interpreter wherever possible. More of these are being trained every year and this will significantly cut the travelling expenses you will need to pay. However if you work in the West or extreme South of the County, Interpreters coming from Cambridge or Suffolk might be more cost effective for you.

In an emergency situation where life or liberty could be at risk- you may be able to get a face to face BSL or foreign language interpreter by calling CINTRA on the out of hours number, it is worth a try. However you are more likely to be able to get the right interpreter if you can give notice.

If an interpreter speaking the language you require is already working in your premises or in the area on the day of your booking, be prepared to show a bit of time flexibility, if suggested by the booking staff, to enable the same interpreter to do the job for you. Face-to-face interpreters are paid travel expenses. It will save your organisation having to pay for travel twice!
 

At the Time of the Appointments

If you are running late with appointments, give priority to the client with an interpreter. Interpreters are paid from the time they were booked to the time they leave your premises.
 

Missed Appointments

If your client does not turn-up, call your client and ask the interpreter to translate for you. This will help you establish if your client was aware of the appointment and understood the reason for the appointment. You may want to be sure that, if another appointment is arranged, the client will attend. Keep written notes on your client's file.