Careers using BSL

Perhaps you are thinking about learning BSL, but aren’t sure if it’s worth getting qualifications. For a lot of people, qualifications aren’t necessary to achieve their goal, such as just having enough BSL skills to hold a basic conversation and be able to take a Deaf person’s order at their workplace.

That said, getting qualifications give Deaf people reassurance you have a standard of BSL. It also opens up potential career paths which you may not have realised!

Interpreter

This is a “live” skill. What I mean by this is that you will be translating in real-time, either conversations, presentations, phone calls, theatrical performances…

If there is any potential for someone to interrupt or “go off script” then that is interpreting.

This is a highly sought after skills set, in particular for life-altering scenarios such as medical appointments and legal proceedings. As such, it is necessary to have a high standard and an appropriately distinguished qualification. This could be a Level 6 and Diploma, or an applicable and relevant Bachelor’s degree, for example.

To be a registered interpreter is voluntary, but highly recommended for client reassurance and interpreter accountability.

Translator

This is a “static” skill. What I mean by this is that translated pieces are often of pre-written or pre-recorded segments, therefore unchanging in the moment. The catch is that translations in BSL are also often recorded, and may take frequent re-takes of the video before you are happy with your work.

Some examples of translations includes in-vision; this is “the little guy in the corner of the TV” when watching some programs. BBC and Channel 4, for example, have a dedicated option in their streaming platforms for “Signed Versions” where you can see this in action. A lot of these translators are Deaf themselves!

Depending on the topic, you may be required to have some specialist knowledge or experience working in the field. I would recommend also having at least a Level 3 qualification for basic topics, and potentially Level 6 and above for more complex discussions.

Communication Support Worker (CSW)

This job role is very flexible and heavily dependent on the location and employer’s discretion. There is no set standard definition as to what a CSW is, but the general agreement is that it is someone who does not have high skill qualifications in BSL, but works alongside someone Deaf to make their daily routine as smooth as possible.

For example, a CSW would be eligible to make phone calls to book a GP appointment, but they would not be appropriate to interpret the appointment itself. CSWs can also do other tasks such as writing emails, either from scratch or correcting a Deaf person’s grammar. It is recommended to ask what the expectations of the role are so you are fully prepared.

CSWs are therefore very useful for tasks where an interpreter would otherwise be more useful elsewhere. As there are less than 2,000 interpreters registered with the NRCPD [external link] to 151,000 BSL users, 87,000 of which are Deaf [external link], interpreters are in high demand and will be more effectively put to use than making phone calls or writing emails.

Teacher of the Deaf (ToD)

Whilst a lot of positions are advertised to have at least Level 1, I would argue it is more appropriate to have at least Level 3 for primary school teaching and at least Level 6 for secondary school teaching. This is because the topics taught by ToDs vary wildly (remember when your school day involved having an hour of P.E. followed by an hour of History followed by an hour of Music followed by…) and you may not have the vocabulary, nor experience in signing, to keep up with the demands of the role.

ToDs are different to interpreters or CSWs as they will be teachers; much like Hearing schooling, you would also be required to make lesson plans, mark homework and exams (if appropriate) and other “normal” tasks. You also being a teacher means having the same requirements as other teachers, including basic First Aid training (often provided to employed staff) and an enhanced DBS certificate for safeguarding purposes, so keep this in mind when applying for this role.

Some careers will not require BSL or any sign language knowledge, however it is recommended:

Lipspeaker

This is a very niche line of work, although it is in demand. Lipspeakers are individuals who have training in how to manipulate the shape of their mouths to be more easily understood by someone who is lipreading [external link] Normally, lipreaders can only pick up about 60% [external link] of what someone else is saying, so having a dedicated lipspeaker can increase this and allow the person to gain more information and confidence following the conversation.

Whilst most people who use lipspeakers are those who do not use BSL (or any other kind of Sign Language) it can be useful to also have some knowledge of BSL to supplement your lip patterns with visual cues– this is known as Sign Supported English (SSE) if not all words are given a BSL sign, or Sign Exact English (SEE) if every word is signed.

Note-Taker

One of the most important roles allowing for Deaf people accessing education or employment, a note-taker is pretty self explanatory: they listen to what’s happening or what’s being discussed, and make notes accordingly. BSL is therefore not needed in the obvious sense (you can’t sign clearly and write neatly at the same time!) but as your client is likely Deaf themselves, having BSL to ask them their needs or expectations, or to clarify their requests, will be a useful skill.

Social Worker

This line of work is very dependent on the clients, as some may be more welcoming to work alongside than others. Deaf people may need social workers for a number of reasons, so having some knowledge of BSL can be useful in getting that friendly connection and build a good relationship.

Audiologist..?

I find it quite strange that someone who has a level of medical training and specialist knowledge in things related to hearing and deafness would not require (or wish to seek out for their own benefit) BSL qualifications, but that’s how it is. I wonder if I come back to this page in a few years’ time if things will change…

Speech and Language Therapist..?

Similar to above, considering a portion of the clientele for a Speech and Language Therapist are Deaf, I often am confused as to why not also have BSL knowledge to help connect and communicate with your patients.