The Business Services Organisation (BSO) Interpreting Service is commissioned by the Department of Health/SPPG to provide foreign language interpreting support to Health and Social Care (HSC) providers in Northern Ireland (NI). The main aim of the Service is to improve access to HSC Services for Patients/Clients who do not speak English proficiently. HSC Interpreting is demand-led and requests vary according to the needs of Patients/Service Users. Providing an Interpreter:
- ensures clear, accurate and impartial communication
- minimises risk of misdiagnosis, misunderstanding and non-consent; reduces times/costs associated with repeat appointments, prolonged appointments, unnecessary admission to hospital;
- complies with legislative requirements: Race Relations (NI) Order 1997; Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998
Interested in a career as a Health and Social Care Interpreter?
**BSO are currently seeking new Interpreter applications for Somali, Vietnamese, Tetum, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Oromo, Albanian, Tigrinya, Italian, Malayalam and Amharic**
BSO manages an approved register of over 465 trained, self-employed, community Interpreters covering a range of 35 different languages. HSC Interpreters play a vital role in ensuring that HSC Staff and Patients can communicate effectively in HSC settings. Interpreters make a real difference in people’s lives by:
- enabling clear, accurate, confidential and impartial communication between HSC Staff and Patients/Clients
- assisting HSCNI Services to provide safe and responsive services
- reducing risk of misdiagnosis and misunderstanding
To join the BSO register of Interpreters applicants must:
- Hold an interpreting qualification such as OCN Level 4 Certificate in Community Interpreting*
- Have excellent communication and listening skills, and have the ability to work and communicate with an extensive range of people and services
- Complete the BSO Health Specific Induction Course prior to registration
OCN Level 4 Trained Applicants can apply to join the waiting list to register with the BSO Interpreting Service by emailing interpreting@hscni.net to request an application pack.
*OCN Level 4 is currently delivered via DIVERSITY NI (028 9047 3737) and FLEX Language Services (028 9072 7878). Please note there is a cost associated with undertaking this training.
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Contact Us
BSO Interpreting Service
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday : 9am -5pm
Telephone: 028 95363777
Out of Hours Telephone: 028 96158200
General Enquiries – Email: interpreting@hscni.net