National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services Published by the Healthcare Interpretation Network – HIN Toronto, Canada. First Edition. November 2007. Second Edition August 2010. Copyright © 2007-2010 Healthcare Interpretation Network. www.healthcareinterpretationnetwork.ca No part of the National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except in accordance with the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act of Canada, as amended or except with the prior written permission of the Board of Directors of the Healthcare Interpretation Network or such designate as the Board may appoint. All rights reserved. Printed with the financial support of the Association de l’industrie de la langue/Language Industry Association Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Language Sector Enhancement Program. Designed by: Sara C Designs, [email protected] Table of Contents 1. Scope of the Standard Guide 2 2. Introduction 2 3. Acknowledgements 2 4. Definitions 6 5. Interpreter’s Qualifications 9 Skills and Competencies 9 Interpreting Competence 9 Linguistic Competence 9 Research and Technical Competence 9 Interpersonal skills 9 6. Responsibilities of Clients 10 7. Responsibilities of Interpreting Service Providers – ISP 10 8. Role and Responsibilities of Interpreters 11 9. Settings 11 Annex I 12 LITP Standards of Practice & Ethical Principles 12 Accuracy and Fidelity 13 Confidentiality 14 Impartiality 14 Respect for Persons 15 Maintenance of Role Boundaries 15 Accountability 16 Professionalism 16 Continued Competence 17 Annex II 18 Language Classification / Working Languages 18 Annex III 19 Professional Associations 19 Annex IV 20 Healthcare Interpreting 20 Annex V 22 Legal Interpreting 22 Bibliography 24 National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting Services 1. Scope of the Standard Guide 3. Acknowledgements This National Standard Guide specifies the requirements The development of the National Standard Guide for for the provision of quality community interpreting ser- Community Interpreting is an initiative of the Healthcare vices to ensure reliability in the provision of such services Interpretation Network Policy Committee and has been nationwide. made possible thanks to the efforts and dedication of Community interpreting (also known as institutional individuals and organizations representing a wide variety interpreting) is usually done in the consecutive mode in of sectors across Canada. a dialogue-like interaction. It enables communication The following organizations have worked towards the between LEP/LFP speakers and providers of public ser- creation of the National Standard Guide for Community vices such as: healthcare, government agencies, commu- Interpreting Services. nity centres, legal settings, educational institutions, and social services. Healthcare Interpretation Network – HIN Interpreters working in this type of setting usually work www.healthcareinterpretationnetwork.ca into and out of two of their working languages. Founded in 1990 and incorporated in 2004, HIN is a 2 This Standard Guide applies to Community Interpreting network of individuals and organizations dedicated to only. improving access to high-quality healthcare for patients with limited English proficiency. HIN is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for: 2. Introduction • The development of strategies to promote aware- To date, no national body in Canada has provided clear ness of the language barriers that inhibit the quality and consistent definitions of the characteristics and of healthcare provided to patient populations with competencies of a qualified community interpreter, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in Ontario. leaving interpreters, hiring organizations and the general • The recognition of the need for the development of public with no clear idea about the role of the interpreter standards to guide the training of language interpret- or what is expected from interpreters. As a result, the ers in the healthcare sector. quality of interpreting across Canada has been inconsis- • The exchange of information regarding healthcare tent leading to potentially incomplete, inaccurate and interpretation. dangerous communication. This first National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting will promote the highest quality of inter- The goals of HIN are to: preting when adopted for assessment, training, hiring, • Enable and enhance access to healthcare by provid- performance monitoring and possible future profes- ing education on the need for language interpre- sional recognition. It will also serve as an educational tool tation and translation services in the delivery of for the general public. It is understood that it will take healthcare in Ontario. some time before all community interpreters meet this • Conduct research, disseminate information and pro- standard, such that, it can be relied upon in all language vide education with respect to language interpreta- combinations at all times and in all settings. tion and translation services in the healthcare sector. This Standard Guide provides a common base of under- • Raise funds and provide resources for the education standing concerning community interpreting services. and training of qualified language interpreters. Adopting this Standard Guide at the national level is crucial to achieving professionalization in the field. • Promote common education and professional stan- dards in the provision of language interpretation and The document encompasses definitions of interpreting translation services. terminology, human resources requirements, respon- sibilities of interpreting parties – clients, interpreting service providers and interpreters, professional standards of practice, core ethical principles and other practical aspects. Association de l’industrie de la langue/Language Critical Link Canada Industry Association – AILIA www.criticallink.org www.ailia.ca www.illi.ca Critical Link Canada is a non-profit organization com- AILIA represents organizations delivering language ser- mitted to the advancement of the field of community vices (translation, language training, and language tech- interpreting in the social, legal and healthcare sectors. nologies). AILIA has been working to raise the standards While its primary focus is spoken language interpreting, for the language industry in Canada. It has now taken it works closely with those who work in the area of sign an active role in supporting Community Interpreting language interpreting. Critical Link Canada fulfills its through its Translation Committee. mandate by: The mission of AILIA is to promote and increase the com- • Promoting the establishment of standards, which petitiveness of the Canadian language industry nation- guide the practice of community interpreters. ally and internationally through advocacy, accreditation • Encouraging and sharing research in the field of com- and information sharing. munity interpretation. • Adding to the discussion about the educational and The goals of AILIA are to: training requirements for community interpreters. 3 • Promote the interests of the language industry. • Advocating for the provision of professional commu- • Act as a common base for action for all participants in nity interpreting services by social, legal and health- the industry. care institutions. • Become a forum for industry members. • Raising awareness about community interpreting as a profession. • Raise the visibility of the industry. • Put together initiatives to face industry challenges. Association of Canadian Corporations in • Develop common human resources strategies. Translation and Interpretation – ACCTI • Promote innovation and R&D. www.accti.org • Facilitate networking between the industry and other ACCTI is a non-profit association committed to represent- public and private sector partners. ing the interests of Canadian corporations in the business of translation and interpretation and represents public • Become the essential industry representative for the interest through quality-oriented membership and public sector. designations. ACCTI has been an active participant in the • Stimulate the efforts of industry stakeholders both on developments occurring in the community Interpreting the national and international levels. field. • Support the emergence of alliances and projects to An Ad Hoc Advisory Committee was set-up to create the expand the industry. National Standard Guide for Community Interpreting. The Committee was composed of representatives from the four above-mentioned organizations as well as from other parties working within the Community Interpreting field. Guide prepared by: The Healthcare Interpretation Network – HIN Ad Hoc Advisory Committee Policy Committee Diana Abraham Lola Bendana Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Multi-Languages Corporation Former Senior Program Consultant Healthcare Interpretation Network – HIN Critical Link Canada Board of Directors Founding Member Association de l’industrie de la langue Healthcare Interpretation Network – HIN Language Industry Association AILIA Board of Directors Board of Directors Association of Canadian Corporations in Translation Wilma Alvarado-Little and Interpretation – ACCTI Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities 4 Elba de Leon University at Albany, SUNY New York St. Joseph Health Centre Manager Interpreter Services