Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

British Sign Language Interpreter

The closing date is 23 October 2025

Job summary

We are recruiting British Sign Language Interpreters, level 6, with a high level of proficiency, significant interpreting experience following RSLI registration and experience of working in a mental health setting.

We are looking for candidates who are compassionate, respectful, professional, and reliable. This means demonstrating a non-judgemental and caring attitude but also the ability to uphold both personal and workplace boundaries to ensure safety of self, patients, colleagues and the public.

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER

Band 6 £38,682 - £46580 per annum plus, Rate 3 High Secure Allowance of £4,012 per annum and a local recruitment and retention allowance of 18% £8,384 per annum

Rampton is one of the three High Secure Hospitals Mental Health and Learning Disability Hospitals in the country and the only provider of High Secure Deaf Services nationally.

Located near Retford in Nottinghamshire, we are in a rural location, your travel to work needs to be a factored into whether this is the job for you.

Main duties of the job

To undertake a range of sign language interpreting tasks for deaf and hearing people in a variety of settings as required. This includes interpreting in staff and patient meetings where both hearing and deaf staff are present.

To contribute to the training of new staff on how to engage effectively with Deaf patients to achieve a positive outcome.

To work as a member of the team to create a therapeutic deaf community.

Ability to accurately process the source language into a target language without any omissions, additions or misleading factors which will alter the intended meaning.

To expertise to convey complex meaning and emotions for participants who do not have shared language or not sufficiently fluent for the purpose of the interaction.

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.

Details

Date posted

09 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

186-1239-25-FS

Job locations

Rampton Hospital

Woodbeck

Retford

DN22 0PD


Job description

Job responsibilities

As a BSL Interpreter you will provide a professional, accurate and effective interpretation service to facilitate communication between patients and staff, healthcare, allied professionals and external social contacts who do not share a common language, in addition to supporting our deaf staff with BSL Interpreting as required.

Interpretation will cover clinical meetings, therapy sessions, case conferences, staff meetings, interpreting for clinicians working one to one with patients, members of the multi-disciplinary team, social/professional visits, personal telephone / video calls and faith-based activity.

You will have experience of working in a mental health setting, with the knowledge and training to interpret highly complex, sensitive and emotive language, experienced in a forensic mental health setting.

As a healthcare provider, we work on a shift system. Your hours of work will be within the following times, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Please see job description and person specification for a full details

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a BSL Interpreter you will provide a professional, accurate and effective interpretation service to facilitate communication between patients and staff, healthcare, allied professionals and external social contacts who do not share a common language, in addition to supporting our deaf staff with BSL Interpreting as required.

Interpretation will cover clinical meetings, therapy sessions, case conferences, staff meetings, interpreting for clinicians working one to one with patients, members of the multi-disciplinary team, social/professional visits, personal telephone / video calls and faith-based activity.

You will have experience of working in a mental health setting, with the knowledge and training to interpret highly complex, sensitive and emotive language, experienced in a forensic mental health setting.

As a healthcare provider, we work on a shift system. Your hours of work will be within the following times, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Please see job description and person specification for a full details

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A BSL Level 6 Diploma in British Sign Language Interpreting
  • A recognised Post Graduate Qualification in BSL Interpreting
  • Registered with NRCPD or RBSLI membership

Desirable

  • Membership of Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI) / Visual Language Professionals (VLP)

Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Training

Essential

  • Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
  • Ability to carry out mandatory training relevant to working environment and to support improvements to care.

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable significant experience following RSLI registration.
  • Experience of interpreting within a wide range of settings including health, social care, legal and community work.
  • Experience of interpreting in a mental health setting.

Desirable

  • Experience interpreting in a forensic secure health setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Fluent British Sign Language Interpreter at level 6
  • Knowledge of patient group with awareness of complexities and sensitives required in communication.

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to produce a high level of proficiency in both BSL and English to give an accurate interpretation
  • Motivated, enthusiastic and committed to the delivery of fully accessible services for Deaf/deaf users
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A BSL Level 6 Diploma in British Sign Language Interpreting
  • A recognised Post Graduate Qualification in BSL Interpreting
  • Registered with NRCPD or RBSLI membership

Desirable

  • Membership of Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI) / Visual Language Professionals (VLP)

Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
  • All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Training

Essential

  • Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
  • Ability to carry out mandatory training relevant to working environment and to support improvements to care.

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable significant experience following RSLI registration.
  • Experience of interpreting within a wide range of settings including health, social care, legal and community work.
  • Experience of interpreting in a mental health setting.

Desirable

  • Experience interpreting in a forensic secure health setting

Knowledge

Essential

  • Fluent British Sign Language Interpreter at level 6
  • Knowledge of patient group with awareness of complexities and sensitives required in communication.

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to produce a high level of proficiency in both BSL and English to give an accurate interpretation
  • Motivated, enthusiastic and committed to the delivery of fully accessible services for Deaf/deaf users

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rampton Hospital

Woodbeck

Retford

DN22 0PD


Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Rampton Hospital

Woodbeck

Retford

DN22 0PD


Employer's website

https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Darren Lount

darren.lount@nottshc.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

09 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

186-1239-25-FS

Job locations

Rampton Hospital

Woodbeck

Retford

DN22 0PD


Supporting documents

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