Continuing professional development

• Interpreting in Magistrates Court (Sign Solutions Accredited)

A weekend programme delivered at Birmingham Magistrates’ Courts covering distinct areas of Magistrates’ Courts work.

This offers the opportunity to learn all about the Magistrates’ Courts system and a chance to practice in a ‘live’ courtroom situation. Each session will include all the key players in the court including real Magistrates’, professional prosecution and defence solicitors, a court clerk and also Gloria Ogborn and Sean Nicholson as BSL/English linguistic supervisors. In addition, we use the services of a Deaf actor for role of defendant/witness as necessary.
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• Induction into Court Interpreting (Sign Solutions Accredited)

This one or two day training course takes the interpreter through a wide range of theoretical, practical, logistical, linguistic, protocol and dilemma issues in a clear chronological order. The two day-course covers the range of topics applying them to all courts, whereas the one-day course focuses on the criminal system only.

Whether you are an interpreter with some or no court experience at all, this comprehensive and thought provoking programme will give you the toolkit of knowledge and behaviours to engender confident and professional working practices in the courtroom.
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• Induction into Police Interpreting (Sign Solutions Accredited)

Covers a wide range of practical, professional, logistical, linguistic and dilemma issues in a clear
chronological order from the initial point of contact through to safeguarding the interview and interpretation process, on to limiting the possibility of being questioned in court about your interpretation.

Whether you are an interpreter with some or no police interview experience at all, this comprehensive and thought provoking programme will give you the toolkit of knowledge and behaviours to engender confident and safe working practices in the police interview.
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• BSL Linguistics (Sign Solutions Accredited)

The course provides an introduction to the analysis and description of BSL and is aimed at professionals, both Deaf and hearing, working with BSL and will cover essential linguistic tools. We will discuss the structure and use of BSL at many levels, from the smallest units making up a sign, through the use of mouth patterns and non-manual features, and to the ways that verbs show a range of linguistic information and the issues surrounding sign order in BSL. Sign language storytelling and poetry is another area of focus. By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the ways that sign linguistic theory can help describe BSL, and how they can apply this understanding to their daily work with BSL.
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• Effective co-working between Interpreters and Deaf Relays (Sign Solutions Accredited)

A professional development programme that provides a unique and innovative opportunity to consider and develop best practice in effective co-working between hearing interpreters and Deaf interpreters or Deaf relays. The programme focuses on best practice in a range of co-working settings and includes opportunities for discussion, role play and feedback. Open to Deaf and hearing professionals.
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• Deaf Relay Training (Sign Solutions Accredited)

An advanced level training programme that is the first of its kind to be run in the UK.

The course focuses on specific aspects of Deaf Relay work and includes a number of core elements required by any professional working in this field.

Learners are able to draw on the wide-ranging skills, experience and knowledge base of our Deaf and hearing training and assessment team.
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“Clear instructions and very pleasant to deal with. Excellent!” Samuel Johnson, NVQ 4 BSL/English Interpreting course participant