Health Affiliates Maine

Translator

• Interpreters will participate in one or more interpreter trainings, to maintain their professional standing.
• Interpreters provide accurate, impartial and professional linguistic services, adhering to the standard of the profession and the Code of Ethics at all times.
• Interpreters observe and protect the confidentiality of the client, through both words and actions, regarding both words and actions.
• Interpreters do not “follow the client”, interpreting for other types of appointments.
• Interpreters will disclose an existing relationship with a client prior to meeting with the client, to discuss issues of dual role/relationship, patient advocate vs. neutral third-party, and possible conflict of interest.
• Providers and interpreters discuss with a client what will happen if a client sees an interpreter outside of the providers’ office, to ensure the client’s comfort and privacy.
• Interpreters convey accurately the meaning of what is being said by each party to the other.
• They interpret everything that is said by all involved in the interaction without omitting, adding or changing the core meaning of anything.
• They are impartial and refrain from providing counsel, advice or personal opinions.
• Professional interpreters correct themselves when they realize they’ve made an inaccurate interpretation and ask for clarification when they don’t understand the meaning of a term.
• They ask for something to be repeated when they didn’t accurately hear everything being said.
• They encourage provider-client contact, connection, and relationship.
• Professional interpreters don’t speak for the parties involved, ask questions of their own initiative, or tell what occurred in other interpreted settings.
• Providers and interpreters don’t have side conversations.
• Conversations between interpreters and providers should happen after or in advance of meeting with a client.
• Interpreters don’t have side conversations with clients.
• If a client initiates a conversation, interpreters politely say they can talk with the client about it after the session.
• Providers and interpreters meet before beginning to work together to discuss the needs of each, and best practice standards for the work.
• They also meet periodically to ensure optimal effectiveness as a team and mitigate compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma.
• Clients may be contacted with the use of phone interpreters on occasion to evaluate the interpretation experience.
• If two or more persons are speaking at the same time, interpreters ask that one person speak at a time so interpretation can happen successfully.
• Clients bring themselves to meetings, if possible. If a ride is provided, interpreters refrain from discussing personal material with clients. This protects the interpreter and keeps the neutral emotional space from the client.