Equality & Diversity - Translation and Interpretation
Serving the Whole Community
The provision of interpretation, translation and communication support service for non-English speakers and people with disabilities is embedded within both European and UK law. Furthermore, these services are essential to ensure that the public has equal and full access to the Council's services.
As the UK is multi-cultural and multi-lingual society, the provision of high quality language and interpretation services is important to social inclusion, participation and integration. The changing nature of the European Union in terms of movements of people within the EU countries as well as asylum seekers and refugees has resulted in huge demand for the type of language services required.
In both the Council's Equality and Diversity Strategy and the Local Strategic Partnership's Equal Rights and Diversity Statement there is an acceptance that all members of the community have the right to receive a high standard of service and a commitment is made to ensure that no individual within the community is excluded from accessing services.
Bradford Council is committed to ensuring that individuals are aware of the services it provides and what their rights are in relation to these services. In order to exercise their rights, individuals should be provided with information in a form, which they can easily understand. Effective communication is essential if we are to meet the needs of our customers. No agency can expect to provide an effective service to customers with whom it cannot communicate well. The language barrier can seriously affect the quality and equality of service provision and for customers it can be a tremendous obstacle, which separates them from essential services and information.
To ensure equal access to Council services, interpretation, translation and communication support service will be provided where:
- there is face-to-face interaction between the Council and a customer;
- we are providing basic information about obtaining services; and
- we are consulting with customers to obtain their views, opinions, comments and complaints.
