CACDP Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics for BSL/English Interpreters

Definition

In this code "Interpreter" means any person who is registered by the Independent Registration Panel as a Member of the Register of BSL/English Interpreters or as a Trainee BSL/English Interpreter or as a Junior Trainee BSL/English Interpreter according to the current conditions of registration.

Note: The Panel's view is that individuals who are involved in the management, training, supervision or mentoring of interpreters, should consider themselves bound by the provisions of this code as if they were practising interpreters insofar as their activities involve interaction with interpreters or consumers.

1. Interpreters shall conduct themselves responsibly and professionally.

This includes:

• Seeking to increase their skills and knowledge within the profession.
• Safeguarding professional standards in every practicable way.
• Offering other interpreters reasonable assistance.
• Respecting the ethics and best practice of other professions.

2. Interpreters shall interpret truly and faithfully and to the best of their ability between the parties without anything being added or omitted from the meaning.

3. Interpreters shall only accept work which, having taken relevant factors into account, they judge to be within their competence.

• In exceptional circumstances, where a suitable interpreter is not available, an assignment may be accepted provided that all the parties have given their consent after having been informed of any implications and potential risks involved.
• In the event of unforeseen difficulties arising during an assignment, interpreters should admit any limitations and seek to overcome them in a professional way. If this is not possible an interpreter should withdraw from the assignment.
• When accepting work, the interpreter's status (i.e. registration category) must be stated.
• Amongst the relevant factors to be taken into account would be the professional advice and guidance available to interpreters through employers, mentors or other support networks.

4. Interpreters shall treat as confidential any information which may come to them in the course of their work including the fact of their having undertaken a particular assignment.

• This does not preclude sharing experiences on a strictly confidential basis within recognised structures of professional support and training, whilst respecting client confidentiality.
• This also does not preclude disclosure when legally required to do so, or when not disclosing information could render the interpreter liable to prosecution.
• It is recognised that the presence of an interpreter at an assignment which is in the public domain need not be treated as confidential.
• Where evidence is being collected for training/assessment purposes, e.g. for NVQ witness statements, steps must be taken to preserve the customer's right to confidentiality. This could be achieved by excluding certain agreed information from the statement or by obtaining the consent of the consumer(s) involved to the preparation of the statement.

5. Interpreters shall act in an impartial way and shall be seen to do so, i.e. taking the side of neither one party nor the other.

• Any business or vested interests which the interpreter may have in an assignment must be disclosed beforehand or as soon as practicable.

6. Interpreters shall not use information obtained in the course of their work to benefit themselves or anyone else improperly.

7. Interpreters shall not give advice or offer personal opinions in relation to topics discussed or people present in an interpreting assignment.

• It is a legitimate part of the interpreter's role to take appropriate steps to ensure good communication is facilitated between people who have differing linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Such steps should always be taken in as professional and unobtrusive a manner as possible.

8. Interpreters may advertise their services providing the information is factual, relevant and neither misleading nor discreditable to the profession.

• When describing their status, interpreters should identify under which category they are registered:

Member of the Register of BSL/English Interpreters

Trainee BSL/English Interpreter

Junior Trainee BSL/English Interpreter

• Other titles such as "Registered Qualified Interpreter" or "CACDP Registered" should not be used after 1 April 2002.

9. An assignment, once accepted, should not be cancelled by the interpreter without good reason. If an interpreter cannot attend an assignment the parties concerned should be informed immediately and a written explanation provided.

• After consultation with the parties concerned, it it the interpreter's responsibility to make every reasonable effort to find an appropriate substitute.
• Interpreters must not delegate accepted assignments nor accept delegated assignments without the consent of the parties concerned.

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