NRCPD (National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People)

The NRCPD is a UK-based nonprofit organisation registered under charity number 1170904, serving as the national regulator for over 1,600 language service professionals who work with Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals. Its remit covers professionals such as British Sign Language/English Interpreters and Translators, Irish Sign Language Interpreters, Lipspeakers, Notetakers, Speech-to-Text Reporters, and Interpreters for Deafblind People.

Mission and Objectives

The primary purpose of the NRCPD is to protect Deaf and Hard of Hearing people by promoting high standards of conduct and professionalism among communication and language professionals. It aims to maintain public confidence in language services across the United Kingdom by ensuring that such services are delivered competently and ethically. Its charitable objectives focus on promoting the needs of and protecting d/Deaf and deafblind people as well as advancing education related to the challenges faced by these communities.

Functions and Activities

• Regulation and Registration: NRCPD manages registers of qualified communication professionals, ensuring they meet minimum standards of proficiency and ethics required for working with d/Deaf and deafblind individuals. Holding registration with NRCPD signifies a professional’s commitment to quality and safeguarding the public.

• Setting Standards: The organisation establishes and enforces standards for practice among the regulated professions, including interpreters, translators, and other communication support workers.

• Complaints and Fitness to Practise: NRCPD investigates complaints concerning the fitness to practise of registrants to uphold service quality and public trust.

• Collaboration: It works with public, private, and non-profit organisations to encourage the exclusive engagement of NRCPD-registered professionals, thus promoting consistent high-quality communication services.

• Education and Advocacy: As part of its charitable purpose, NRCPD promotes education and awareness about issues facing d/Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing, and deafblind communities, advocating for their communication rights.

Governance

NRCPD operates under a governance framework that includes policies on safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries, managing conflicts of interest, and maintaining financial and operational controls. The organisation is overseen by a board of trustees who ensure compliance with its charitable objectives and regulatory responsibilities.

Coverage

NRCPD’s remit extends throughout England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, providing oversight and assurance across the UK and British Overseas Territories.

Significance

As the leading voluntary regulator in its field within the UK, NRCPD plays a crucial role in ensuring that communication professionals working with Deaf and deafblind individuals are competent, accountable, and uphold the rights and dignity of those they serve. By raising the standards of language service provision, NRCPD contributes significantly to public protection and the promotion of inclusive communication access.

This article summarises the NRCPD’s role, functions, and governance as a national charity dedicated to improving communication access for d/Deaf and deafblind people across the UK[1][2][3][5].

[1] https://www.nrcpd.org.uk/about-us [2] https://www.nrcpd.org.uk [3] https://www.nrcpd.org.uk/registration [4] https://www.nrcpd.org.uk/contact-us [5] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5093292/full-print