In an ideal world, Insight Workplace Health would like to be able to provide all those who require assistance with communicating with a suitable interpreter. Unfortunately utilising an interpreter to assist with an individual’s occupational health medical will incur additional costs which would need to be borne by the employer, and as an advisory service we are unable to insist that this is provided by them.
However, Insight Workplace Health are actively working with employers and seeking ways in which we can better support both employers and employees in communicating effectively with staff who have limited proficiency in English.
Translator or Interpreter
A translator works with written content, transferring it from one language to another, whereas an interpreter works with spoken content.
Interpreters generally translate back and forth between two parties, but may also work with visual and tactile material, such as British sign language and braille.
If you have employees who have limited or no ability to communicate in English this does not prevent them having a medical with Insight Workplace Health, however in order to provide an equitable service to all of employees we do require more time to undertake these medicals, as the clinician (occupational health technician or occupational health nurse) will need longer with the employee to use a suitable translation app to translate each the questions into their preferred language.
Where occupational health is advised about a potential language barrier in advance (see above) then we will ensure that the clinician is aware of the potential language barrier in advance and allow extra time (a double appointment in most cases) to enable the appointment to go ahead.
Important Notes
If an employee attends for a medical and they are unable to communicate sufficiently for the medical to be completed in the allocated time, then it will be necessary to recall them for a further appointment to complete it at a future date at additional cost to the business.
Should any of our clinicians feel that an interpreter is required a medical to be completed you will be advised by our Medicals Team and this will be arranged once a suitable interpreter is sourced and a mutually convenient time identified and where necessary payment in full for this additional service has been provided.
It is important to note that it is not appropriate to utilise those under the age of 18 to interpret for a relative in any capacity within a medical, except where NOT doing so may result in potential greater harm to the individual, this is unlikely to occur in MOST occupational health scenarios.
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