Interpreting and translating
Interpreting and translation policy
Barnet Council’s new approach to interpreting and translation was agreed by members in March 2008. The council’s interpreting and translation services are currently provided by an external provider. Arrangements for these services are unchanged.
The policy provides guidance on the following:
- adopting a selective approach to using interpreters and translators based on a common sense understanding of need
- etiquette on using interpreters and translators
- advice on when to translate documents into other languages, noting that translation cards will no longer be attached to public documents
- advising officers to produce accessible summaries of public documents which can for translations if required
- an explanation of how interpreting and translation promotes integration and cohesion
- an agreement that services should be developing their own logos which can be used to aid customer signposting in our contact areas
- explaining how the policy needs to be applied with reference to the Diversity Monitoring Protocol referred to below.
For more information, please refer to the Interpreting and Translation Policy (February 2008) 
(PDF 323KB) which should be used in conjunction with the Diversity Monitoring Protocol (PDF 228KB)
Diversity Monitoring Protocol
The purpose of the Diversity Monitoring Protocol (PDF 228KB) is to assist officers on how to use the diversity monitoring categories when collating information about service users/residents/non users. The monitoring categories are age, disability, ethnicity, faith/belief, gender and sexual orientation. In addition to this the information collated helps to inform the organisation on the different needs of its diverse communities.
Diversity monitoring enables the council:
•Demonstrate how services are delivered in a fair and equal way to all out customers
•Shape new and existing services around customer needs
•Find out whether customer satisfaction rates vary between different communities
