On a daily basis social workers are required to listen to, observe and communicate effectively with service users and carers. Effective communication lies at the centre of successful social work intervention, and interpreting and translation services have the potential to facilitate communication and secure people full access to their rights. However, there can be difficulties accessing interpreters and concern about how to work effectively with them during social work intervention and assessments.

Interpreters, like social workers, belong to an identifiable profession. Our interpreters are bound by national standards specifying minimum qualification requirements as well as industry codes of ethics. Users of interpreting services such as hospitals, courts, and social service agencies rely on these guidelines for screening and hiring interpreters. Global Interpreting also uses these guidelines as a standard set of criteria for evaluating the quality of staff and contract.