Management Information Sheet
Booking INTRAN interpreting and translation services from 1st July 2017
Booking INTRAN interpreting and translation services from 1 July 2017
Following a major tender for interpreting and translation services, we would like to inform you that new suppliers who were best able to meet our criteria around fulfilment, ability to provide suitably trained and qualified interpreters and translators and access to highly cost-effective for guaranteeing safe practice have been appointed.
We will continue to use all existing providers except for face to face interpreting. From 1 July 2017, the contractual responsibility will be with HITS and not with Cintra anymore.
| Type of service | Appointed supplier | Booking Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| British Sign Language and Lip-speaking | Deaf ConneXions | Tel/fax 01603 660889 Out of hours tel: 07957 255086 Email: mail@deafconnexions.org.uk Minicom: 01603 661113 |
| Telephone Interpreting | Language Line Services | 0800 169 2694 |
| Face to Face Interpreting | HITS (Hertfordshire Interpreting Service) | Tel: 01442 867212 Email: interpreting@communityactiondacorum.org.uk Fax: 01442 239775 |
| Translation Services | Translate plus | intran@translateplus.com 020 7324 5476 |
Frequently asked questions
From now until end of June, staff who are regular users of face to face interpreters may want to tell the interpreters they see to register with HITS if they want to continue to work for Norfolk County Council from 1 July. To apply to register with HITS, please contact 01442 867212 or HITSrecruit@communityactiondacorum.org.uk . Alternatively, they could contact INTRAN at INTRAN@norfolk.gov.uk to register their interest.
1.1. What about our ID codes? Will we need to have new ones?
There will not be any change to the ID codes that are currently used.
1.2. I need to book a face to face interpreter for a service taking place at the end of July, but I cannot wait until July to book. Who should I contact?
You should contact HITS as they will be the supplier providing face-to-face interpreting from the 1st of July. If you want to arrange bookings that will take place after 30 June, you can start calling HITS now.
We have identified a number of scenarios which may help you decide what to do.
| Booking | Contact | Extra info |
|---|---|---|
| Booking already made with Cintra that will take place after 1st of July. | You will need to amend that booking so that it is made under NCC's local purchasing arrangement*, using your own contract standing order. | N/A |
| Booking to be arranged but taking place after 1 July | Book directly with HITS | HITS are currently making all the arrangements that are necessary to source interpreters from 1 July. Before this period, they are happy to take your bookings and will contact you nearer the time of the assignment to confirm who the interpreter will be. |
*Any booking taking place with Cintra after the 1st of July will not have the back of any framework conditions, so if anything went wrong with the booking, NCC would have no recourse for action. Using local arrangements means a contract will be in place in the eventuality staff have already made bookings with Cintra for bookings after that deadline.
1.3. My staff are used to working with Cintra, and would like to continue to use them.
From 31 July 2017, the procurement department will not authorise payment for any booking that is not arranged through the appointed suppliers.