Telephone Interpreting

When is telephone interpreting useful?

  • Telephone interpreting offers instant access to an interpreter who speaks the language you need. You don’t need an appointment – just call us and we’ll put you through to an interpreter right there and then.  
  • It allows you to work with people whose first language is not English at any time and from almost any location.
  • We can quickly source telephone interpreters including for rare and unusual languages.
  • Telephone interpreting is very cost-effective.

 

What is telephone interpreting?

In telephone interpreting, an interpreter helps two people speaking different languages to communicate with each other.

The interpreter works over the telephone and is not physically present.

You can use telephone interpreting whether or not the client is with you, and when you receive an incoming phone call from a client with limited English proficiency.   

 

Using telephone interpreting when the client is with you

Dial 0800 169 2694 and give your INTRAN id code to the operator. Operator confirms contact details and language required. Operator connects you to available interpreter. Begin conversation. Dial 0800 169 2694 and give your INTRAN id code to the operator. Operator confirms contact details and language required. Operator connects you to available interpreter. Begin conversation.

Using telephone interpreting for incoming phone calls

You recieve an incoming phone call. Find out what language the caller speaks. Put the caller on hold. Call 0800 169 2694 and give your INTRAN id code to the operator. Operator confirms contact details and language required. Operator connects you to available interpreter. Brief the interpreter and reconnect the caller. Begin conversation. You recieve an incoming phone call. Find out what language the caller speaks. Put the caller on hold. Call 0800 169 2694 and give your INTRAN id code to the operator. Operator confirms contact details and language required. Operator connects you to available interpreter. Brief the interpreter and reconnect the caller. Begin conversation.

Using telephone interpreting when the client is not with you

Dial 0800 169 2694. Operator confirms contact details and language required. Operator connects you to available interpreter. Request "dial out" to your service user. Give your client's contact details for dial out. Brief the interpreter. Operator connects you, your service user and the interpreter. Begin conversation. Dial 0800 169 2694. Operator confirms contact details and language required. Operator connects you to available interpreter. Request "dial out" to your service user. Give your client's contact details for dial out. Brief the interpreter. Operator connects you, your service user and the interpreter. Begin conversation.

 

How To Book

  1. Before your call

    1. Identify the language. For help with identifying languages, click here.
    2. Make sure you have your INTRAN ID code.
    3. If you don’t know your ID code, contact the INTRAN Champion within your organisation. They’ll let you know what the code is.
    4. If you don’t know who your INTRAN Champion is, contact us at intran@norfolk.gov.uk
    5. Call 0800 169 2694.

  2. The operator will ask you these four questions

    1. What is your ID code?
    2. What is the name of your organisation?
    3. What is your name?
    4. What language do you need?

  3. We’ll put you on hold while we source the interpreter. Don’t worry, it doesn’t take long – usually, less than a minute!

  4. When the interpreter comes on the line, they’ll need this information:

    1. Is your client with you or do you want us to call them?  
    2. What type of phone are you using? (speakerphone, mobile, single handset)
    3. What’s the context of this conversation?
    4. What language do you need?  

  5. Once everything is set up, you can start speaking.