Job summary
- Main area
- BSL INTERPRETER
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 186-1239-25-FS
- Employer
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Rampton Hospital
- Town
- Retford
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

British Sign Language Interpreter
Band 6
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Job overview
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.
Working for our organisation
#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.
Detailed job description and main 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 criteria
- 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 criteria
- Membership of Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI) / Visual Language Professionals (VLP)
Values and Behaviours
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Ability to carry out mandatory training relevant to working environment and to support improvements to care.
Experience
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Experience interpreting in a forensic secure health setting
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Fluent British Sign Language Interpreter at level 6
- Knowledge of patient group with awareness of complexities and sensitives required in communication.
Skills
Essential criteria
- 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
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Darren Lount
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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