AQW 48684/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 15/06/2026
Answered On Date: 30/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether interpreters in Health and Social Care Trusts receive training on how to engage with victims of human trafficking.

Answer:

The Business Services Organisation (BSO) Health and Social Care (HSC) Interpreting Service does not currently provide training to Interpreters on how to engage with victims of human trafficking.

The role of the Interpreter is to facilitate clear and accurate communication between HSC Staff and Patients/Clients - not to offer support, counselling, or guidance. BSO-Interpreters are independent contractors who provide their services in line with the BSO Interpreter Terms of Engagement which includes commitments to confidentiality, impartiality, and professionalism. The Terms state that:

Interpreters must interpret truly and faithfully to the best of their ability, between the service user and the HSC practitioner, without anything being added, omitted or distorted;

Interpreters must behave in a professional, respectful and courteous manner in relation to all aspects of their role as the Interpreter under the Terms of Engagement;

If appropriate and necessary, Interpreters may signpost the services user or HSC practitioner to appropriate support organisations or agencies;

In the rare possibility that the Interpreter becomes privy to information that they feel should be disclosed (e.g. child protection, domestic violence linked cases, hazard to life, serious discrimination and racism), they must contact the BSO Head of Interpreting as soon as possible