Change in public sector language services - give voice to the voiceless

As a lobbying and campaigning voice for protection of the public, achieving change in the standards of public sector language services is the National Register of Public Service Interpreters’ (NRPSI's) main focus; ultimately leading to statutory recognition and protection of title for regulated, Registered Public Service Interpreters (RPSIs), fulfilling NRPSI’s purpose, vision and goals.

Between 2010 and 2024, given the lack of desire by an unbroken chain of Conservative administrations, NRPSI has struggled against the odds to see any changes in language services in the public sector. However, there have been some positive developments in recent years; see https://www.nrpsi.org.uk/news-posts/As-we-enter-a-new-stage-of-advocacy-and-lobbying-with-the-new-government-it-is-useful-to-remind-ourselves-of-the-journey-we-have-been-on-since-the-start-of-Covid-click-here-to-see-more. ?With a Labour government we are all hoping for acceleration in changes to how language services are handled by public sector organisations, ensuring greater protection for the public – those who do not speak English but need help with public sector organisations.

Of paramount importance is the continuous development, promotion, maintenance and protection of standards, including ensuring remuneration is commensurate with practitioners’ qualifications and experience.

Taking the engagement function in-house and recognising the status of those who are regulated Registered Public Service Interpreters are steps which will build more effective regulation, higher standards as well as accountability in an area where previous Conservative administrations surrendered control through outsourcing to commercial agencies which were focused on profits, dividends for shareholders and building shareholder-value rather than protection of the public.

It is time to build on the successes of the last few years and accelerate change, to show all communities in the UK, no matter their religion or ethnicity, that this Labour government is a government for all.?It is time for Labour to overturn the mess which the Tories have left in public sector language services.?

Most encouraging has been the way in which institutes, associations, societies and unions are in agreement with the need for change. Through Professional Interpreters for Justice (PI4J) , many voices are amplified when they come together demanding change; there is an air of inexorable inevitability that those who cannot speak English will be treated by the public sector as well as those who are deaf, without any discrimination no matter the colour of their skin, their ethnicity or their religion. #nrpsi ; #nrpst