Capita death: Ombudsman exposed problems that Coroner failed to address, family says

https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/kath-grant/capita-death-ombudsman-exposed-problems-that-coroner-failed-to-address-family- 
19/01/15

Capita death: Ombudsman exposed problems that Coroner failed to address, family says

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Interpreting Services:

When Tahir Mehmood was first arrested and taken to Dallas Court Home Office Reporting Centre, Salford, Home Office staff used a professional telephone interpreting service to interview him. But an interpreting service was not used by Tascor staff at Pennine House. Staff assumed that Mehmood understood English even though a custody officer who spoke Urdu assisted for some of the reception procedures at the centre and another detainee helped interpret for the custody officer who carried out Mehmood’s induction at the centre.

The PPO report raises particular concerns that an interpreter was not used during Mehmood's contact with healthcare staff. “It is difficult to see how staff can be sure that they have accurate information from a detainee if they cannot communicate with them effectively.

“This is even more important when the detainee presents with a medical issue. We have been unable to establish how frequently staff at Pennine House use the approved interpreting service as they do not record it in a log.”

At Pennine House’s last inspection, HM Inspectorate of Prisons found that professional interpreting services were not used when they needed to be. […]