NRCPD
NRCPD regulates communication and language professionals who work with deaf and deafblind people. We believe their job is complex and important, and can seriously impact the lives of deaf and deafblind people. We therefore make sure that the people who use these services are kept safe and receive a high quality service.
We do this by checking that communication and language professionals are properly trained to do their job safely and consistently. We expect everyone who is registered with NRCPD to have certain knowledge and skills, and to meet our professional standards. Only those who meet these standards can carry an NRCPD photo ID card.
Communication and language professionals
NRCPD holds registers for the following professionals:
Interpreter for deafblind people
Interpreters for deafblind people use manual communication to enable deafblind people to understand, participate and interact. The interpreter also relays visual and other non-verbal information, for example reactions to what has been said, movement of other people and what they are doing.
To register with NRCPD as an interpreter for deafblind people, you will need to have achieved the CACDP Level 3 Certificate for LSPs working with Deaf and Deafblind People (Deafblind Manual).
Lipspeaker
Lipspeakers repeat spoken messages for people who can lipread. They ensure clear communication in critical situations or when there is more than one voice to follow. Lipspeakers use facial expression, natural gesture and fingerspelling to support communication.
To register with NRCPD as a lipspeaker, you will need to achieve the Signature Level 3 Certificate in Lipspeaking or have already achieved the CACDP Level 3 Certificate for LSPs working with Deaf and Deafblind People (Lipspeaking).
Notetaker
Notetakers produce an accurate summary record of speech which a deaf person can use for reference after the fact.
To register with NRCPD as a notetaker, you will need to have achieved the CACDP Level 3 Certificate for LSPs working with Deaf and Deafblind People (Notetaking), or have achieved the Signature notetaking endorsement (2016).
Sign language interpreter
Sign language interpreters transfer meaning from one spoken or signed language into another signed or spoken language. They use their skill and knowledge of the two languages, and their understanding of cultural differences, to transfer a message in one language into the other.
To register with NRCPD as a sign language interpreter, you must be highly skilled in a signed language like BSL and another language. It may be another signed language or a spoken language. You must also have the appropriate qualifications in both interpreting and the second language.
There a number of different routes to gaining these qualifications, for example you could achieve the Signature Level 6 NVQ Certificate in British Sign Language and Signature Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting qualifications. You can read the full list of qualification routes on the NRCPD website.
Sign language translator
Sign language translators translate written text from one language into another. Most often this will be written English into a signed language for the purposes of broadcasting or online distribution.
To register with NRCPD as a sign language translator, you will need to achieve the Durham University MA in Translation Studies or the Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation.
Speech to text reporter
Speech to text reporters use a phonetic keyboard to immediately show spoken words on a monitor or screen for real time communication. They provide a complete transcription of spoken words and include notes of environmental sounds, like laughter and applause.
To register with NRCPD as a speech to text reporter, you will need to have achieved one of the NRCPD eligibility assessments. Please contact NRCPD for further information.