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Community Interpreting Service (CIS)

CIS is a long-established specialist interpreting and translation service that provides solutions to the linguistics needs of public services and their clients.

It uses trained and accredited interpreters and translators in more than 60 languages and offers a reliable, confidential and impartial service.

CIS interpreters:Customer Service Excellence logo

  • are trained to help you communicate with your clients in an efficient and professional manner, are impartial, and observe strict confidentiality at all times;
  • clarify any cultural misunderstandings;
  • create the opportunity for a positive exchange of information between you and a non-English speaking client.

Interpreter training starts in May 2013

The training is for people who are interested in working as interpreters and are proficient in English and another language. It will start in May 2013 and will take place on Saturdays in Medway Council in Gun Wharf, Chatham.

It is organised by CIS (Medway Council) and Workers Educational Association (WEA) and leads to interpreting qualifications certified by the Open College Network London Region.

We are particularly interested in applicants speaking English as well as one of the following languages:

Arabic, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Dari, French, Hungarian, Iraqi Kurdish, Latvian, Lithuanian,Mandarin, Nepalese, Pashto, Romanian, Russian, Slovak Tamil , Thai and Turkish.

For further details, including the cost of the course, please download Medway CIS leaflet (pdf 100KB) and Medway CIS application form (pdf 41KB).

To use this file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it on your computer, please use the advice page.

The closing date was Friday, 12 April 2013.

 

Interpreters for health professionals

The help of an interpreter is essential while dealing with patients whose command of English is not good enough to understand or express their needs adequately when:

  • taking the case history from the patient;
  • explaining the purpose and describing test procedures and gaining consent;
  • giving and explaining test results;
  • giving a diagnosis and prognosis;
  • prescribing treatment.

Booking an interpreter

If you, as an agency, need the services of a community interpreter for your clients or patients, please contact the CIS.Community Interpreting Service logo

To book an interpreter you can:

To use this file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it on your computer, please use the advice page.

Interpreter recruitment

If you are a qualified interpreter, would like to work for Medway Council and have one of the following qualifications:

  • Community interpreting level 3,
  • Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI)

or are a member of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), please use the contact details below to let us know.

For more information contact Community Interpreting Service by telephone: 01634 335577 / 01634 331286 or by email: cis@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Community Interpreting Service, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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