15th June 2022
This update has three purposes:
- An update with what is happening with the interpreting service.
- An update on the closure of the Health and Social Care Board and the new organisation within which we are working.
- To let you know how to contact us if you have any feedback or ideas to share.
- An update on the interpreting service
The last time we provided an update, we explained that we were not proceeding with the BSO model and we were going to “procure” an interpreting service.
This means that we will buy in the interpreting service from an external provider who is an expert in delivering sign language interpreting for Deaf people. The provider will work closely with us to deliver the service for all of Northern Ireland and deliver the things that you have said are important.
The new service will also provide communication support for people who are deaf-blind and hard of hearing by offering a full range of communication supports. All this will be delivered through one booking service.
Whilst we have been quiet, we want to assure that that we have been working very hard to complete the necessary paperwork and documents which this process requires. We continue to do this and expect to have the new service in place by March 2023. This is our highest priority and we continue to work on it. However, as we are now in a live procurement process we have to follow strict rules which means our ability to provide details is very limited. As soon as we can update you further – we will.
- An update on the closure of the Health and Social Care Board and the new organisation within which we are working.
We wanted to let you know that the Health and Social Care Board closed on 31 March 2022. From 1 April we moved to the Department of Health but our work remains the same. We have a new name which is “Strategic Planning and Performance Group” or SPPG. Our work continues and we remain focused on improving and designing a range of social care services for Service Users across the region. Please look out for SPPG as this will be used for any future communications and updates.
- How to contact us if you have any feedback or ideas to share
Thank you for your continued and valuable feedback. Please know that you can contact us if you have any queries.
You can contact Jane McMillan, Social Care Lead on Jane.McMillan@hscni.net or Grace Reihill, our newly appointed Project Manager on Grace.Reihill@hscni.net
Finally, we would like to thank you for your patience and support whilst we continue to work to develop the new interpreting service.
We hope you have a lovely summer. Thank you.