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Here you will find answers to the most common questions – if you don’t find what your looking for, please get in touch.
What is a LSP/Communication Professional?
BSL/English interpreters, Lipspeakers, Electronic & Manual Notetakers and Interpreters with Deafblind people are collectively known as Language Service Professionals (LSPs) or Language & Communication Professionals.
Where do they work?
LSP’s work in a wide range of settings and facilitate communication between people with a hearing loss and those who do not. Examples of where LSPs can be provided are:
– Medical appointments: G.P. hospital, dental, surgical procedures and consultations.
– Legal appointments: Police interviews, lawyer consultations, tribunals, Children’s Panel, Court cases.
– Educational: Primary, College and University courses, PTA meetings, Evening classes and assemblies.
– Employment: Job interviews, appraisals, team meetings, training courses, disciplinary.
– Meetings: Conferences, AGM’s, Business, Social Services, Advice Bureau.
Which LSP should I book?
As a general guide, those with English as their first or preferred language often choose to work with a Lipspeaker or Electronic Note-taker. For customers who have British Sign Language as their first or preferred language then a BSL/English interpreter is often favoured. However, this is not always the case and much depends on the service user, it is therefore advisable to consult with them to determine which LSP they prefer.
How much notice do I need to give when making my booking?
LSP’s are very much in demand and it can be difficult to secure their services at short notice, though not impossible. The longer notice you can provide the better. As soon as you have a date and time, give us a call.
How many do I need?
This really depends on the length and content of your meeting. Normally you will only need one LSP for short assignments. However, if you are planning a longer meeting, you may require two. For example some meetings may only last a couple of hours, but the content might be specialised and demanding, therefore two LSPs would be required. Another scenario may be a full day training course where participants are periodically given instructions before doing practical work on their own. Depending on the time-table perhaps only one LSP would be needed for this assignment. Each booking will be different and the number of LSP’s should be judged on each situation, our experienced staff will be happy to advice you on the number of LSPs required.
Why do we ask for background information?
In order for LSPs to provide the highest standard of service, it is important they prepare for the assignment. For example, they may need to become familiar with any specialist terminology and have an understanding of context. If you have any paperwork such as an agenda, previous minutes of meetings or background information, please forward this to our office. All material will be treated in the strictest confidence and returned to you after the assignment.