About Me
Kate Shearer
I have over 20 years’ experience of working in customer services. This has included working in the corporate world for an investment bank and recruiting senior management staff and board members for charities. It was in the recruitment role that I first became interested in learning British Sign Language. I obtained the initial levels of study via the NVQ route and completed my path to qualification with a Post Graduate Diploma in BSL / English Interpreting and Translation in 2010.
I am a Member of the Register of Sign Language Interpreters (MRSLI) with the NRCPD and I am also a member of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI). I have been a volunteer with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) since 2004. I love the challenge and diversity of interpreting and am able to offer communication support in a wide variety of settings.
Personal Info
- 01732 521593
- 07833 678742
- [email protected]
- www.bslcommunicator.co.uk
- kate.shearer8
NRCPD
What is the NRCPD?
The NRCPD (National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People) regulates communication professionals who work with deaf and deafblind people. Their job is to safeguard the wellbeing and interests of people who rely on those professionals and they do that by checking that every sign language interpreter, sign language translator, speech to text reporter, lipspeaker, interpreter for deafblind people and notetaker is properly trained to do their job safely and consistently. The NRCPD also set standards of professional practice and make sure only professionals who meet those standards can carry an NRCPD photo ID card.
The NRCPD will investigate any complaints made about communication professionals on the register, which helps to make sure the services provided by all the professionals they regulate meet the standards required of them. For more information, or to access the register, please visit their website.Before booking
Things to consider
Location
It is always beneficial to consider seating arrangements in terms of lighting and background at any location or venue. There should be plenty of light on the interpreter and they should not be placed in front of a window or with light coming from behind as this darkens the face. The ideal position of the interpreter will depend on the assignment. Wherever possible always consult the Deaf user and the interpreter about their appropriate positioning.
Time
The interpreting process requires intense concentration and is very tiring. At top speed, interpreters may be processing up to 20,000 words in an hour. The optimum period of interpreting is 20 minutes. Interpreters can work for longer than this, but over long periods the quality of the interpretation will suffer. For meetings or events of longer than 2 hours, (or of a particularly intense nature), it is often necessary to book more than one interpreter. It is always necessary to allow for breaks, particularly if only one interpreter is used.
Preparation
It is helpful if any papers relevant to an assignment can be sent to interpreters in advance. This will allow them to search for specialist vocabulary and to familiarise themselves with the subject and the people involved. This can include meeting minutes or an agenda, programme, or any background information relating to the topic, the people involved or the event itself. It's also very useful to send any presentation slides beforehand and to consider any video clips in terms of length, content and whether they can have subtitles added.
Cost
You can find a copy of my Terms and Conditions here. I am a member of NUBSLI, the National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters and you can see a copy of their fee guidance document here (documents will open in a new window). Please note these are a guide only. If you would like to discuss a specific enquiry or require a booking quote, please contact me using the contact form.
Contact
If you require any further information, or would like to discuss a quote or availability, please use the contact form below.