Conference Opening

Join us for an inspiring start to The Together Conference - "Moving Our Professions Forward". The Opening Session marks the commencement of this inaugural event, setting the tone for two days of collaboration, learning, and connection as we kick off the conference with a sense of togetherness, bringing together diverse professionals in sign language interpreting and translation.

Keynote Speaker 1 

Inter-professional Collaboration in Mental Health Act Assessments: Insights from the INForMHAA Project 

Description; This conference session delves into the findings of a project called INForMHAA which focuses on Interpreter mediated Mental Health Act Assessments. Its aim is to shed light on how collaboration between Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) and interpreters during assessments under the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 impacts outcomes, and identifies avenues for improvement in interpreter mediated Mental Health Act Assessments. 

Key Questions Explored; 

1. How does the involvement of spoken/signed language interpreters in Mental Health Act (MHA) assessments in England affect AMHP practice? 

2. When is it more suitable to opt for language services (language/cultural advocates) instead of interpreters within AMHP practice and how can this choice be effectively implemented? 

3. What components make a training model for both AMHPs and professional interpreters involved in Mental Health Act Assessments? 

The main goal of the INforMHAA project is to navigate challenges and identify practices, in professional collaboration during MHA assessments when AMHPs and interpreters work together. In this presentation delegates will learn about the methods used by the project, which bring together expertise from fields such, as social care research, mental health research, deaf studies and interpreting studies. The session will also include excerpts from the research findings providing an overview of the guidelines developed for AMHPs and interpreters who work together. Additionally, there will be training resources to improve professional collaboration based on the project’s discoveries. Join us as we explore the changing landscape of collaboration, in Mental Health Act Assessments and gain insights to enhance practices in this crucial field.

Bridging The Gap Between Education and Practice

The evolution of the Sign Language interpreting (SLI) profession, coupled with the increasing academisation of the field, has prompted institutions to delve into theory, and scholarship. But scholars of the field advocate for a "cycle of empowerment” of the whole field, emphasising the interconnectedness of research, education, practice, and reflection in shaping proficient professionals who adopt an academic attitude towards their profession. However, Germany presents a scenario where SLI has been relatively underexplored. The absence of comprehensive research, beyond mandatory undergraduate theses, underscores the need to address the lack of scholarly exploration in SLI within the German context. A pilot study in 2022 sought to unravel the reasons behind the scarcity of research activities, probing the perspectives of practitioners on their career views, and specifically inclinations toward academic pursuits. The findings indicate a lack of internalisation among practitioners regarding the significance of research in interpreting. The SLI practitioners acknowledge the utility and benefits of research, especially in the context of further training and continuing education courses but do not actively conduct research or even consider academic careers. Feedback from practitioners additionally describes a perceived limited ability to engage in correct scientific work. Given the inherently practical nature of their occupation, the assertion that research in interpreting is not self-evident for practitioners resonates.

To bridge the gap between education and practice were various low-threshold formats tested over the past year, leading to discussions by introducing research through articles, theses, and other theoretical products among practitioners. This presentation introduces some of the tested formats, offering a glimpse into strategies to foster a reflective and research-oriented culture within the SLI community, ultimately enhancing the profession's academic engagement and practitioners' scholarly contributions.

Experiences of interpreting conversations where bad news is shared in health settings: The impact on the BSL/English interpreter.

Interpreted consultations where bad news is shared in healthcare settings, are rarely preceded by any preparation or warning to the interpreter. Although interpreters may work in these highly emotionally charged situations, they are not generally considered part of the clinical team and may be unprepared linguistically, emotionally, spiritually, or socially. The NHS has its own protocol for delivering this information, which usually involves a clinical team meeting to ensure that all medical staff are informed and can discuss and review the case history beforehand. However, interpreters are rarely privy to these discussions and are consequently not similarly prepared.

This ongoing study is being conducted as part of the MSc Advancing Practice in Signed/Spoken Language Interpreting at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. The research sets out to explore the experiences of interpreting the sharing of bad news in healthcare settings, the impact this has on interpreters and the coping strategies that they draw upon. Data will be generated in a series of online video-recorded interviews to better understand the lived experiences of BSL/English interpreters. These interview data will be analysed thematically to identify common and divergent

themes relating to the interpreters’ experiences, the strategies they employ in these contexts and the perceived effectiveness of those strategies. The study aims to provide awareness and transparency for both the interpreting and medical professions, which could inform professional interpreters’ working practice and promote enhanced interprofessional working with clinicians.

Lunch Break. A break away from your screen or time to chat with colleagues via the confrence app!

Keynote Speaker 2

Fostering Psychological Safety through Unconditional Positive Regard in Training, Practice and Regulation.

In today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, creating environments that nurture psychological safety and facilitate the development and sustenance of best practices is paramount.  This presentation aims to shed light on the transformative power of applying Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR) in training, practice and regulation.  By doing so, we can build resilient and supportive systems that promote the growth of individuals and the professional sector alike.

Unconditional Positive Regard, a foundational concept in humanistic psychology, champions the idea of offering non-judgemental acceptance and respect to individuals.  When we apply this principle to training and development, it can profoundly impact the learning process.  Educators and Mentors who provide UPR foster an atmosphere where trainees feel comfortable to take measured risks, seeking feedback and being safe to respond to this feedback. This enhances their growth and development, creating a psychologically safe environment.

Moreover, practitioners who experience UPR within their professional circles are more likely to embrace innovation and best practices.  UPR encourages collaboration, empathy and open communication, ultimately leading to an atmosphere where practitioners feel valued and supported.  This, in turn, sustains the highest standards of practice.

In the realm of regulation, UPR can drive improvements by emphasising positive reinforcement ,structured and direct development over punitive measures.  Regulators can incentivise compliance with best practices through developing supportive assets, engagement with Professional Associations, and transparent communication about their processes and decision making,  creating an effective environment for professionals to thrive.

By integrating UPR we can forge environments where individuals are empowered to continually improve, innovate  and maintain the highest standards of their fields.  The application of practical strategies for implementing UPR and fostering psychological safety ultimately leads to sustainable best practices and a culture of growth and excellence.

Uncomfortable Conversations: Are we 'woke' in the interpreting profession?  If we are, what does that look like?  If not, what can we do?

As linguists and communication professionals, it’s thought that we should be aiming for cultural competence.  Being aware of our own world view, the perspectives of others and having the skills to communicate and interact across cultures.  But why do we stop here? On the continuum we should be aiming for cultural proficiency and continued growth, at an individual and organisational level.  Within the profession we need a view of collective responsibility which can mean being comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Are you woke, or are you ‘on the road to wokeness’?  There are different levels of ‘becoming aware’ and like cultural competence or proficiency it is not a destination, it needs to be worked on regularly.  Woke has previously been linked to racial equality but it can equally apply to other intersections.

Through observations within the profession over the past few years, it is great to see that the EDI is gaining momentum.  It affects us all, so should be at the forefront of people’s minds.  Being continually mindful will make us better professionals.  We need to continue to attract diverse language service professionals, they need to be seen at all levels that represent the profession.

Diversity without equity or inclusion is tokenistic, and maintains current systems and practices.  Those from underrepresented groups need to be given unique resources to have a fair chance of succeeding, which will lead to them feeling included and increase their participation and contribution to the profession.

Similarly, there is no point bringing a new seat to an old table.  If you do this, nothing changes.  We need to create a new table and culture and continue to identify and address gaps.  This will encourage better unity amongst us and make sure we continue to strengthen the profession, and remain current and adapt as we go.

Closing Session. Conference Reflections: CPD Maximisation 

In this session, we will delve into the strategic alignment of conference content with professional standards. In this concise 15-minute segment, we will explore methods for maximising Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. The session aims to guide participants in effective reflective learning, offering practical insights on translating conference experiences into tangible contributions to their CPD development plans. Join us for a focused exploration of how your conference engagement can serve as a significant element in your ongoing professional growth.