Deaf-Blind Service Provision and Mental Health Complaints Assistance

19/11
13 April 2011
MPA briefing paper 19/2011

This briefing paper has been prepared to inform members and staff. It is not a committee report and no decisions are required.

Action: MPS to provide a briefing note on the provision of services to deaf-blind service users

Summary

On 10 February 2011, Caroline Mortimer (A/Director of Logistical Services) attended the EDSC. She provided an update on the levels of linguistic provision being delivered across the MPS to support operational business and community engagement.

Members were keen to explore the services being provided to the Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing communities through the MPS Language Programme. These are outlined in the Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) but sought further clarification in regard to the services available to the Deaf-blind community.

Background

The MPS Language Programme delivers linguistic support through a number of mechanisms i.e. the use of own staff, the Interpreters Deployment Team (IDT) and the use of remote interpreting through the video conferencing platform. The choice of which model to employ is normally related to the duration/complexity of the task but always the task itself (Criminal Justice versus Non Criminal Justice).

Own Staff Programme

The programme deploys MPS employees who have volunteered their knowledge and skills (linguistic, Cultural, Community) to assist with every day policing related tasks (Non Criminal Justice). The database has volunteers who have British Sign Language (BSL) skills ranging from levels 1 to 4. Additionally we have individuals competent in lip speaking and Sign Supported English (SSE). None of these individuals have Deaf-blind communication skills.

The skills required for Deaf-blind interpreting are often quite distinctive from those employed for individuals who are only Deaf or only Blind, and in a professional sense attract additional qualifications for practitioners (CACDP CDC2 level 2 certificate).

The Own Staff Programme continues to monitor, record and register the skills or new recruits to the MPS, and has identified this as a “skills gap” in our current database.

Interpreters Deployment Team (IDT)

This team was launched in September 2009 and has overall responsibility across the MPS for the scheduling and booking of interpreters. In the 18 months of operation, 37,000 deployments have so far been recorded. To date, none of these relate to the deployment of a Deaf-blind or dual sensory impaired resource.

The team has access to an MPS database of 413 Met List interpreters, and around 600 National Register interpreters in and around London. The Met list contains 23 BSL interpreters; none of them have the additional qualifications required to work with Deaf-blind service users but we have one Deaf-blind interpreter listed with Deaf-blind manual alphabet skills. Our operating protocols afford us the opportunity (if the required skill is not available amongst our own interpreter listings because of reasons such as rarity or availability) to “out source” the request to a number of specialist agencies.

In the case of Deaf-blind we would draw upon the additional support provided by agencies such as the RNID who offer appropriately qualified Criminal Justice interpreters who employ some of the following methods to help communication between people who are hearing and people who are Deaf-blind:

• The Deaf-blind Manual alphabet
• The Block Alphabet
• Hands-on signing
• Visual frame signing

Remote interpreting (video conferencing platform)

The installation of a video conferencing platform across the MPS will allow the organisation the flexibility to deliver linguistic support (where appropriate) through remote interpreting. This will provide speedier access to linguistic support for Detainees, victims and witnesses. The decision to use remote interpreting will be taken on a case by case basis with regard to the needs of the individual, the complexity of the case, the sensitivity of the investigation or for any reason that can be justified by either the officer in the case, or a representative (in the case of a detainee) that may not be immediately apparent.

In the case of a Deaf-blind detainee, victim or witness, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) advocate that a face to face interpreter will always be sent, not least in some instances due to the uniquely physical nature of the requirement between client and interpreter (physical holding of the clients hand, and use of movement and touch to facilitate communication). This is known as tactile communication.

The SOPs also provide guidance to investigators who are dealing with Deaf-blind individuals in relation to room lighting requirements, seating positions and the frequency of breaks required by Deaf-blind interpreters.

In summary, the MPS as a limited ability to provide Deaf-blind interpreters through its own vetted list. Amongst the 37,000 deployments undertaken to date we have not yet needed to utilise the Met list resource. It is highly likely that in most cases where there was a degree of urgency we would activate the “out source” route, and draw from a specialist agency.

Action: MPS to provide a briefing note on how people with mental health disabilities are assisted when making complaints.

A dedicated DPS policy for dealing with complainants suffering from some type of mental health issue is challenging given the length and breadth of the term 'mental health problem'.

Every effort is made to ensure we meet people’s needs in order to facilitate the reporting of complaints. This will include the use of face to face interviews, the use of third party reporting sites and facilitation through intermediaries or friends. MPS staff are not health professionals and therefore at point of contact we may not necessarily identify that someone has a mental health issue. Any officer (or staff) dealing with a person they suspect may be suffering from a mental health problem can seek advice from Borough mental health liaison officers or those aides mentioned above.

No specific guidance exists on how a service quality complaint is dealt with by the MPS when dealing with people who may have mental health issues.

Within the IPCC there are no internal policies that deal with complainants with mental health issues. Advice is contained within the additional assistance section of their Statutory Guidance that reflects the principles of meetings peoples individuals needs as stated above. Regard is also given to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the definitions within.

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