PI4J email re CCS Language Services Framework
Agreement
Email sent on behalf of Professional
Interpreters for Justice (PI4J) to Crown Commercial Service (CCS) on 25 March
2015
Re CCS Language Services Framework
Agreement
We are given to understand that the
CCS will be moving forward with the tendering of the Framework Agreement (FWA)
before the 30th March, without further consultation with or input from
interpreters and their representative bodies.
PI4J wishes to make it clear that it
cannot support any arrangements or FWA which does not fully take into
consideration all our submissions in respect of minimum professional
qualifications for Public Service Interpreters (PSI) and BSL/English
Interpreters, Deaf interpreters and Sign Language translators, mandatory
NRPSI/NRCPD/SASLI registration, and independent regulation and quality and
performance auditing.
Without these safeguards, access to
justice will be denied and human rights and race relations will be jeopardised.
Robust standards need to be set and
vigorously enforced in order to protect the public and those we serve, which
include many vulnerable people, victims and witnesses in the community and
justice sector. They must be afforded equal access to the highest levels of
linguistic support.
In addition, we reiterate that in
order to attract and retain qualified and experienced professional interpreters
and language professionals, equitable and sustainable terms and conditions need
to be put in place.
Our members have demonstrated in the
last three years – since the Ministry of Justice’s outsourcing of the courts’
language services – that they can and will refuse to work for low rates set by
so-called ‘market forces’, thereby significantly reducing the pool of qualified
interpreters and translators available to work in the public services.
Any arrangements and/or framework
agreement that may significantly impact on the delivery of communication and
language services in the public sector and especially in the justice sector,
must be designed with the utmost care and with full and adequate consultation
with interpreters and language professionals and their representative bodies.
However, consultation without the
implementation of our input is meaningless.
We refer you to the guidance set out
in the National Agreement (NA) for the Use of Interpreters in the Criminal
Justice System and its high standards of professional qualifications and
registrations, which resulted from years of policy development, consultation
and cooperation between members of the justice sector, their language services,
interpreters, interpreters’ representative bodies and academic institutions.
Full support of professional
interpreters is the only way forward to ensure the quality and success of any
future arrangements for the provision of language services in the public
service sectors.
FYI, please see attached a copy of
the PI4J Manifesto which further details what we stand for.
For and on behalf of the Professional
Interpreters for Justice
Professional Interpreters for Justice
(PI4J) Member Organisations:
National Union of Professional
Interpreters and Translators, part of Unite the Union (NUPIT) – nupit@unitetheunion.org
Professional interpreters cannot
support any arrangements or FWA which does not fully take into consideration
all our submissions in respect of minimum professional qualifications for
Public Service Interpreters (PSI) and BSL/English Interpreters, Deaf
interpreters and Sign Language translators, mandatory NRPSI/NRCPD/SASLI
registration, and independent regulation and quality and performance auditing.
Without these safeguards, access to
justice will be denied and human rights and race relations will be jeopardised.
Robust standards need to be set and
vigorously enforced in order to protect the public and those we serve, which
include many vulnerable people, victims and witnesses in the community and
justice sector. They must be afforded equal access to the highest levels of
linguistic support.
In addition, we reiterate that in
order to attract and retain qualified and experienced professional interpreters
and language professionals, equitable and sustainable terms and conditions need
to be put in place.
Our members have demonstrated in the last
three years – since the Ministry of Justice’s outsourcing of the courts’
language services – that they can and will refuse to work for low rates set by
so-called ‘market forces’, thereby significantly reducing the pool of qualified
interpreters and translators available to work in the public services.
Any arrangements and/or framework
agreement that may significantly impact on the delivery of communication and
language services in the public sector and especially in the justice sector,
must be designed with the utmost care and with full and adequate consultation
with interpreters and language professionals and their representative bodies.
However, consultation without the
implementation of our input is meaningless.
We refer you to the guidance set out
in the National Agreement (NA) for the Use of Interpreters in the Criminal
Justice System and its high standards of professional qualifications and
registrations, which resulted from years of policy development, consultation
and cooperation between members of the justice sector, their language services,
interpreters, interpreters’ representative bodies and academic institutions.
Full support of professional
interpreters is the only way forward to ensure the quality and success of any
future arrangements for the provision of language services in the public
service sectors.
FYI, please see below a link to
the PI4J Manifesto which further details what we stand for.
Professional Interpreters for Justice
manifesto MARCH 25, 2015
Professional Interpreters for Justice
(PI4J) is an umbrella group representing over 2,000 interpreters from the
National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) and 300 British Sign
Language interpreters.
Our aim is to work with government to
ensure the quality of interpreting available to the Justice System.
Reliable communication provided by
qualified professional interpreters and translators is an essential resource
which ensures that justice and human rights are upheld for non-English Speakers
and deaf people.
This is put at risk if standards are
dropped and quality is sacrificed for profit.
Current government policy is to
reduce costs by outsourcing services.
PI4J: What are we asking for?
1. The use of qualified interpreters
2. Full consultation with the
interpreting profession
3. Sustainable terms and conditions
to be offered to interpreters
4. Independent auditing of quality
and performance
5. Independent regulators: Regulation
and the maintenance of registers should not be in the hands of private
providers
6. Minimum levels of interpreter
qualification
7. Statutory protection of title
PI4J: What are we asking for?
1. The use of qualified interpreters:
Only qualified and experienced Public Service Interpreters to be used within
the current MoJ Languages Services Framework Agreement and in any future
arrangements.
2. Full consultation with the
interpreting profession: Future arrangements cannot succeed without the support
of professional interpreters.
3. Sustainable terms and conditions
to be offered to interpreters: to ensure the success of any future arrangements
and quality of service.
4. Independent auditing of quality
and performance: Credible scrutiny of contract management and adherence to its
provisions is essential, and should be part of the role of an independent
Quality Assurance and Quality Management body.
5. Independent regulators: Regulation
and the maintenance of registers should not be in the hands of private
providers. In line with government guidance, since 1 April 2011 the NRPSI has
been a fully independent regulator of the profession, paid for by the
interpreters and run solely in the public interest. PI4J is of the view that
the NRCPD should also be independent.
6. Minimum levels of interpreter
qualification: Interpreter training as well as language fluency with a minimum
level of entry-level qualification must be required with skills maintained and developed
through a programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Provision
should be put in place to encourage the supply of Rare Language interpreters.
7. Statutory protection of title: A
working group must be set up to examine the feasibility of the introduction of
statutory protection for the title of Public Service Interpreter.
Click here for link to full PI4J manifesto
Links:
