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Scottish Council on Deafness Bulletin | Bi-Monthly Magazine for SCoD Members
This month there is something new. We have translated our news into BSL. Please use this link to our YouTube page to find the information:
SCoD is 90 years old this year
We are planning more events and will be in touch with our members shortly with more information.
National Council
The next SCoD National Council meeting which will be on Tuesday 5 September 2017. This will take place in the Park Inn on West George Street in Glasgow. The main item for discussion will be the “future of SCoD”. Papers have now been sent out. If you have not yet given your opinion in the SCoD survey, please contact us for the link.
This meeting is extremely important as it will decide our future for the next 10 years or so. We need our National Council members to attend as we are here to support our membership. Please do contact us to let us know if you are coming – if you haven’t done so already.
Cross Party Group on Deafness (CPGD)
The next CPGD will take place in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 13 September 2017. The first part of the meeting will be the 2017 CPGD AGM and the second part will be the ordinary meeting. Papers have been sent out.
SCoD’s Autumn Training Programme
Information is available on our website -
Deaf Awareness (K101) and Communication with Deaf & Deafblind People (T101)
Date: Friday 29 September 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Venue – SCoD Training Room, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD
For more information, go to
The booking for the first course has now closed.
Human Rights, your business and your customers
Date: Tuesday 12 September 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm
Booking for the second course
Inclusive Communication and Accessible Information
Date: Monday 18 September 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm
Closed on Monday 4 September.
We are in discussion with several organisations about delivering training directly to them. If you have several members of staff who you think could benefit from the training we have on offer, we can come to you to deliver the training to your organisation or part of it. For more information, contact us at
We are offering AWARENESSbites online deaf awareness training – more information in the training part of this bulletin.
Membership
Recently, we have had a number of new members – welcome to SCoD!
We are always happy when new members want to join us and are specifically looking for new members who have an interest in
- BSL language development
- Communication barriers and solutions
- General deaf awareness
If you want to know more about joining SCoD and being part of the Deaf Sector, please contact us on or telephone 0141 248 2474.
If you are a BSL user, you can use contactSCOTLAND-BSL to contact us.
SCoD’s “Connect & Collaborate” Conference 2018
Our Conference is on 8 March 2018.
The theme will be “Connect and Collaborate” and will be around the topic “Integration, Inclusion and Wellbeing”. We will announce shortly the programme and “early bird” tickets will be on sale later this month. We are in the process of confirming the programme.
Our latest newsletter is the 2017 Connect and Capitalise ConferenceReport and is available to download from our website:
As we are no longer printing our Newsletters, if you are a member and would like a Word version of the newsletter sent to you, please email us on .
Disclosure: Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
If you have staff who will be working with children and/or vulnerable adults they will need to be a member of the PVG Scheme. If you are not able to sign the forms yourself why not get SCoD to do it for you!
For more information about booking an appointment or general information, please visit our website:
Repeated Special Request!
We are moving towards a more digitally inclusive organisation and instead of paper handouts at our training sessions, we would like to be able to give participants packs of information on USB sticks/flash drives. Do any of you have USBs with your logos/messages on them that you would be willing to give us to use as part of our new training programme so that you get some publicity for your own organisation?
We will continue to share papers and information in other formats when requested to do so as we are aware that some of you cannot use USBs at work.
If you would like to help, please contact Mandy or Janis at or telephone 0141 248 2474 to discuss.
Best wishes
Janis & the SCoD Team
GENERAL NEWS
The Scottish Trades Union Council are gathering the views of disabled employees
The aim of the survey is to get a better understanding of disabled workers views of their employers’ attitude to disabled people in the workplace, from selection and recruitment to steps they take to help them to retain employment as the impact of their disability affects their normal functional capacity.Click on this link to take part: Scottish Trades Union Council Disabled Workers Committee Survey
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Citizenship and civic engagement:
Share your views
What doescitizenship in the UK mean to you?Whatbarriers are preventing people from being more involved,locally and nationally?Join in with our inquiry and let us know what you think.
The big issue
British society is changing.Technological, economic and culturalchangesare leading to shifts in howpeoplelive and work together.
TheScottish independence and Brexitreferendums,low levelsof confidence inthe political system,andconcernfrompeople who feel left behindare all signs ofa need to findnew ways of building bridges within and between communities.
How you can help
What doesbeing anactivecitizen meanto you? Can you tell us about what will help you play a more active role in in public life?
TheHouse of Lords Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagementwould like to hear your thoughts on these areas:
- The meaning of citizenship and civic engagement in the 21st Century
- The rights and responsibilities attached to citizenship
- The state of citizenship education and the role that it plays in creating active citizens
- The role of voluntary citizenship schemes such as the National Citizen Service
- The ways society can support civic engagement and the role of Government and Parliament in supporting that
- The values that all of us who live in Britain should share and support
- The relationship between civicengagement and social cohesion
Your answersdon’t have to be long,and theydon’t have to cover all these points.
Send a written submissiononthe inquirywebpage
Letus know your thoughtsby Thursday8September 2017.
Informal submissions
If you'dliketo send a more informal submission,you can emailvideos, blog posts, poems, posters, postcards, cartoons or even 30 November 2017.
What are select committees?
Find out more about select committees, how they affect government policy and how you can get involved.
Learn more about select committees
Queen Margaret University – BSL / English Interpreting modules
Queen Margaret University is delighted to announce that, in recognition of the need to continually enhance the skills of registered interpreters, the Scottish Government has agreed to contribute financially to the development of the specialist modules that will form the key component of our planned MSc/PGDiploma/PGCert in Advanced BSL/English Interpreting. Some of this funding will be directed specifically towards Scotland-based interpreters, and will be used to offer discounts to some module fees.
The first cohort of students will be starting their Masters-level study in Advanced BSL/English interpreting in September 2017. The students come from diverse areas within the UK and from a range of previous training backgrounds. Students will initially study the general theory and practice of interpreting before progressing to focus on areas of specialism such as working in healthcare, mental health, justice and education. The first of these specialist modules will come online in September 2018.
Theory and practice modules will start in September each year. Theory and Practice of Interpreting 1 (Semester 1) includes topic areas on theories and concepts of interpreting, an introduction to Demand Control-Schema, linguistic and contextual challenges, and consideration of how quality in interpreting is evaluated. Theory and Practice of Interpreting 2 (Semester 2) includes topic areas on co-working, ethical practice, rapport management, professionalism and self care. Applicants who have already studied interpreting at graduate level may be able to join Theory and Practice of Interpreting 2 which will take place in Semester 2 (January to April). The deadline for applications for January 2018 is Friday 10th November 2017.
Each module (worth 15 credits at SCQF Level 11/QCF Level 7) is delivered entirely online, and no attendance on campus is required. The full fee per module for the 2017/2018 academic year is £475.
For more information about how you could participate in this professional development opportunity please contact
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WEST OF SCOTLAND DEAF CHILDREN'S SOCIETY 70th ANNIVERSARY- ENDEAVOUR AWARD
This year, our organisation celebrates its 70th anniversary with a range of events and activities to mark this important milestone.
Celebrating the success of deaf children and recognising their achievements has always been a core part of our work and will continue to be into the future. To underline this, we are relaunching the West of Scotland Deaf Children's Society Endeavour Award. This was formerly known as the May Neeson Cup.
The Award is open to children and young people across our age range: 0 -25 years.
Nominations can be made by families or professionals and key to any nomination should be the recognition of achievement in its widest sense. This can include triumph over adversity, sporting achievement, academic achievement, resilience and determination or being an inspiration to others.
The Award will be made at the West of Scotland Deaf Children's Society AGM on 28 October 2017.
An independent judging panel will help us determine the child or young person who receives the cup. The family will be notified 2 weeks before our AGM.
HOW DO I NOMINATE A CHILD/YOUNG PERSON?
Please email/write to us at:
OR
West Scotland Deaf Children's Society, 281a Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD
adding ENDEAVOUR AWARD in the title and answer the following questions.We must receive your nomination by 25 September 2017.
1. Name of the child/young person
2. D.O.B
3. Please tell us why you are nominating the child/young person in no more than 100 words.
4. Please tell us in less than 100 words how you believe they embody and deserve the award.
4. Please describe the child/young person in 5 words.
5. Please note your name relationship to the child/young person.
We will aim to acknowledge all the nominations that we receive and all children/young people who are nominated will be recognised by certificate.
We look forward to receiving nominations and celebrating the successes and achievements of all deaf children and young people in the West of Scotland.
SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS (SASLI)
Independent Consultants
Short term consultancy opportunities have become available at Scottish Association of Sign
Language Interpreters (SASLI), with funding from the Scottish Government until June 2018.
SASLI currently operates as a dual registering and membership body for BSL/English Interpreters, Deafblind Manual Interpreters, Guide Communicators, Lipspeakers, and agencies providing language and communication services for deaf and deafblind people in Scotland.
Independent Consultants are sought to carry out the following separate reviews:
1. Organisational Review Ref: SASLIG01
An organisational review is required for successful transition from its dual role to singular role as registering body for language and communication support professionals and agencies in Scotland. The Review will examine SASLI’s current structure as a dual registration and membership body, and make recommendations for the successful transition to its future role as registering body.
The review will, in addition, explore the option for SASLI to expand its function, to become a
‘Monitor’ of language and communication support training providers to ensure compliance with the National Occupational Standards recommendations to maintain consistency and quality.
It is expected the duration of this work will be 40 days (280 hours), with flexible working hours and some work carried out from home.
2. Continuing Professional Development Review Ref: SASLIG02
Continuing Professional Development activities and checks have been part of SASLI’s work for many years with its members under SASLI’s Continuing Professional Development Policy. This review will explore possible expansion of SASLI’s function as a registering body to oversee, regulate and ratify CPD as a ‘Training Quality Assurance/Accreditation Body’ to
ensure that National Occupational Standards are being followed by training providers offering CPD training and activities for language and communication support professionals. In addition, the review will develop mechanisms to make National Occupational Standards principles more transparent for Deaf and Deafblind people.
It is expected the duration of this work will be 35 days (245 hours) with flexible working hours and some work carried out from home.
3. Consultations Review Ref: SASLIG03
Consultations will increase considerably in number with the implementation of the BSL Act, its National Plan and local Plans. There are concerns that deaf and deafblind people will develop ‘consultation fatigue’.
This review, which has two strands, will explore effectiveness of existing consultation
approaches with deaf and deafblind people, and develop a range of new consultation methods to maintain and increase level of interest and responses from deaf and deafblind people. The review will develop an overhauled Complaints and Concerns Policy for SASLI which will be accessible to sign language users.
It is expected the duration of this work will be 30 days (210 hours) with flexible working hours and some work carried out from home.
The salary for each review will be between £15 and £20 per hour, dependent on the nature of the task, and the skills and experience of the successful applicant.
The Organisational Review must begin in October. The other two may begin later but need to be completed by end June 2018.
The deadline for applications is Friday 15 September 2017. The interviews are planned to take place on Wednesday 27 September. Video interviews can be organised if travel is not possible.
Carly Brownlie, SASLI Development Manager can be contacted for further information – either by email: , direct phone: 0141 249 0380 or via the SASLI website on the Contact Us page – click the box next to ‘BSL Users’.
Electronic application forms and job descriptions are available from the SASLI office –
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Consultation on the role of the Scottish Health Council: Strengthening people’s voices in health and social care
The consultation on the role of the Scottish Health Council is now underway and is being led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. This follows a reflective exercise undertaken by the Chair of the Scottish Health Council, Pam Whittle CBE, earlier this year. It is well-recognised that services can only improve when they are informed and shaped by people who use those services, their families and carers, and local communities. Whilst there has been progress made in engaging people, we believe there is more that can be done to improve people’s experience of engagement, whether at individual, community or national level , and to demonstrate more clearly the difference that their engagement has made.
The Scottish Health Council is a key part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland and plays a leading role in ensuring that NHSScotland listens to the views of people and communities, and that it acts on those views. We want to hear your views on the future direction of the Scottish Health Council to help us continue to evolve and play a valuable role in ensuring the voice of people and communities remain at the heart of health and social care.
We encourage you to take part in our consultation and give us your views on the seven consultation questions. Our consultation document (in full and easy-read formats) and access to the online questionnaire can be found by visiting our website:
We are planning stakeholder engagement events to run in late September. Provisional dates are provided within the consultation paper, and if you would be interested in participating please use the registration links provided on our website.
If you have any queries relating to the consultation, please contact us via – paper copies of the consultation document and the questionnaire can also be requested via this email address.
The closing date for responses to the consultation is Friday 20 October 2017.
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Generations Working Together - Photos and stories with and about your grandparents needed for our campaign