Interpreters and Translation
If you do not speak or read English, there are other ways in which we can communicate with you. We can also arrange for leaflets and plans about your care to be translated into your chosen language.
British Sign Language (BSL)
From 1st April 2011 there will be new arrangements for providing interpreting services for Deaf and hearing impaired people in Darlington.
There is a duty team available every Tuesday at Adult Social Care, Central House, Darlington, at which there is a BSL signer available to help with any enquiries. If you need to communicate with social care staff at other times, arrangements can be made to book an interpreter to be present at your appointment.
Telephone: 01325 346270 or 346704
Textphone: 01325 468504
Fax: 01325 346457
Text: 07903 926564
E-mail: publicinformationteam@darlington.gov.uk
If you need help in an emergency outside office hours you can send a text the Emergency Duty Team on 07826 903165 (text only).
Spoken Languages other than English
When you visit Adult Social Care we can show you a card which has different languages on it. You can then point to your language and we can contact an interpreter for you. Alternatively if you telephone us, it would help if you could give us your name, telephone number and the language you wish to speak.
The staff will then telephone a translation service which will put you in contact with someone who speaks your language. The interpreter will tell us what you say so that we understand what help you need. Through the interpreter we will tell you if we are able to help and what help that will be. If we are not able to help we will try to put you in touch with someone who can.