BSL dDeaf Video Relay Service (FOI)

Request  

On www.gov.je there is a page for Disability Team for Government of Jersey:

Disability Team for Government of Jersey (gov.je)

It notes the following:

Three key initiatives are being taken forward to be completed by 30 June 2023. These include:

• the recruitment of a community link worker who will provide support, advice and information for dDeaf Islanders
• an improved Video Relay Service to provide online interpretation for British sign language users. Allowing them to communicate more effectively when accessing Government services
• improving engagement with the 4 independent organisations who represent d/Deaf Islanders. To ensure collective understanding of the needs of the community, and the priorities for change.

Please provide details on the progress of these initiatives, in particular:

A

Has a community link worker been recruited, and will they have British Sign Language (BSL) abilities, if so to what level? If being trained in BSL, when is it envisaged that training to Level 3 will be complete?

B

Has the video relay service been improved to allow out of hours access for use in (for example) a hospital setting? If so what details are there on the improvements?

C

How has engagement been improved with four independent organisations, and what are the four? Are there any details (even redacted) of improved communication, and how has this improved from what was the case before?

Response

A

The Disability and Inclusion Team have recruited to the Community Link post and the successful candidate will receive training and support to undertake the position This includes training in BSL to level 3 during 2024.

B

No changes have been made so far but exploration into the effectiveness of the current SignVideo service is ongoing and any identified issues will be addressed going forward. This includes the out of hours access to the service. 

C

Work is continuing with the four organisations on the island as well as the Royal Association for Deaf People.  The four organisations are the dDeaf Partnership Board, Earsay, dDeaf Society and the deaf club (deaf club is not a formal organisation but it is treated with importance). An example of improved engagement and communication was the four organisations' leadership coming to together to make a decision on the recruitment of the community engagement officer. Therefore, reflecting the direct engagement of the organisations in the recruitment process.