Good practice when using interpreters - Support for Professionals - Domestic Violence Forum - The London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Support for Professionals

Good practice when using interpreters

Never use children as interpreters. This is inappropriate for many reasons including:

Children could be exposed to disturbing details about abuse
Mothers may not tell you about their concerns to try to protect their children which could mean the family does not get the help and support they need
Children may be expected to keep confidential information "secret" which is an unfair burden of responsibility for a child
Children may divulge confidential information to others which could put the safety of the family at risk
Using children as interpreters could damage the relationship between mothers and children by giving children an inappropriate role
Children are unlikely to interpret accurately and may withhold significant information or provide inaccurate versions of what has been said

Never use family members to interpret. This is inappropriate for many reasons including:

Family members may interpret inaccurately or withhold significant information (for example because they do not approve of what is being said or because they do not think it is important enough to interpret)
Family members may breach confidentiality which could affect the safety of the client and any children she has (even when they are a member of her own family and even when they are trying to be supportive)
Clients may withhold important information that they do not want the family member to hear which could jeopardise the safety of the client and her family

Make sure that you use a trained (and therefore skilled) interpreter not just someone who happens to speak the client's language.

Clarify whether the client is comfortable using an interpreter from her own community. Some clients are (justifiably) fearful that the interpreter may know them or their family which creates a risk regarding safety and confidentiality. Some clients are also fearful that members of their own community will not approve of the decisions which they make and they may therefore prefer to have an interpreter from a different community group.

Where there are fears that interpreters may know the client in question it may be safer to use a telephone interpreting service such as Language Line (see below) to preserve client anonymity.

Always ensure that interpreters sign confidentiality agreements beforehand.

Always speak directly to the client and not to the interpreter. 90% of our communication with others is non-verbal (body language). It is disrespectful to clients to talk to an interpreter instead of talking to them and can jeopardise the effectiveness of an interview/meeting.

Try to use interpreting services that have had domestic violence training wherever possible.

Offer female clients the option of a female interpreter as they may be uncomfortable with a male interpreter.

Always ensure that the client and the interpreter speak the same language - avoid making assumptions about language based on which countries clients have lived in.

Ensure that the interpreter knows that they are there to interpret only and not to advise the client or become involved in the discussion in any way. If you are concerned that interpreters are doing something other than interpreting during a meeting call the meeting to a close and clarify what has actually gone on (eg through a telephone interpreting service such as Language Line).

NB There have been cases of clients who have been told by interpreters that they should stay with their husbands for the sake of the family.

Language Line: www.languageline.co.uk Telephone 0207 520 1440 for further information on setting up an account

Barking and Dagenham Translating and Interpreting Service
4th Floor, Crown House, Cambridge Road, Barking, IG118HJ
Telephone: 020 8591 0050 / 0054

The Service can provide an interpreter or undertake translation work in wide range of languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese/Cantonese, Czech/Slovak, French/Lingala, Gujerati, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croat/Bosnian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu/Punjabi, Vietnamese

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Barking and Dagenham Domestic Violence Forum