Kingston Interpreting Service

The telephone interpreting service can connect you to an appropriate interpreter within minutes or you can pre-book a call to guarantee instant connection.

It can be used to:

• identify the customer's initial query and brief assessment of immediate needs
• make an appointment and/or to confirm dates with customers
• act promptly in emergency situations, i.e. accidents.

How telephone interpreting works

You can access the service from any telephone - no matter where you are. No special equipment is needed.

If you and your client are at the same location, calls can be facilitated by:

• using a multi-user headset enabling both yourself and your client to listen in and speak with the interpreter
• passing the hand-held telephone back and forth between yourself and the client
• holding an open telephone conversation with your device on loud-speaker 

If your client is at a different location:

• KIS can connect all parties to a multi-user conference.

Important advice on using telephone interpreters

Before ringing the telephone interpreting service:

• be sure about what you hope to achieve from the call
• think about what you need to know and make notes if it will help

During the call:

• when the interpreter comes on line, introduce yourself, and explain briefly the situation (if known), particularly any terminology/roles of agencies which may be unfamiliar to a foreign interpreter
• tell the interpreter if you are using one handset, or two, or a 'hands free' telephone
• the interpreter will introduce him/herself to your client and assure them that the interpretation is confidential
• try and be as brief, clear and to the point as you can - ask one or two questions at a time
• do not be afraid to interrupt the interpreter if you think they have not fully understood a question
• all parties in conference should avoid speaking simultaneously as this will result in voice-clipping and affect the clarity of the connection
• try to use direct speech - imagine you a talking directly to the client

If any problems are experienced with using this facility please contact us.

Video interpreting service

This service is used for virtual meetings. 

After making your booking please send a calendar invite to kis@kingston.gov.uk. KIS will pass this link on to the interpreter to join virtually. 

On ‘entering’ the meeting, the interpreter will state their name and wait for instruction. instructed. Please provide the full names of the people in the meeting and  explain how you want the interpreting delivered e.g everything interpreted or partial depending on the clients level of English. As with telephone, please speak one "paragraph" at a time in order to make the interpreting more efficient and so that nothing is missed. As with telephone and face to face interpreting, everything that is said will be interpreted.