Interpreters and the importance of registering with the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People
Communication professionals provide services that facilitate effective communication between one or more deaf or deafblind people and other people in a particular situation. That can be at the doctor's or at work, in the police station reporting an incident or in a safety briefing at the local gym, in a hospital with a consultant or at a school parents' evening.
NRCPD registered communication professionals have all achieved recognised qualifications in their discipline and work to strict professional codes of practice. Registration is the only guarantee that providers of communication services have met safe-to-practice standards. By becoming registered sign language interpreters are agreeing to be subject to a
Code of Conduct and a
Complaints Procedure. As part of the registration sign language interpreters are required to provide evidence of a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Enchanced Disclosure certificate and Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII).
Registered communication professionals have demonstrated commitment to the highest professional standards. Their services are needed in most formal and many informal settings. It is a requirement to use only registered interpreters in court and police environments.
Only using services provided by registered professionals clearly demonstrates a commitment to meet responsibilities to provide equal access under human rights and disability discrimination legislation.