Interpreter - Haitian Creole

Job Description

Medical Interpreter

Haitian Creole

$20.00 $23.50

POSITION SUMMARY:

The interpreter serves as the communications liaison between non-English speaking clients and health center providers and staff to facilitate accurate and complete communications. Interpreter may be a health center employee or an outside interpreter. Employee interpreters will normally combine interpreting duties with the duties of another position.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Interprets for clients who visit the health center for medical or other purposes. Interprets completely and accurately, keeping all parties fully involved in the conversation. Private, exclusionary conversations between interpreter and staff or between interpreter and client are inappropriate. Interpreters should not make decisions for the client or filter information.

Asks for feedback to ensure all parties understand each other completely. Asks all parties if they have any questions or confusion and clarifies as needed.

Notifies provider or other staff immediately if unable to communicate fluently with client. If clinical or other essential information is being discussed, interpreter should request the assistance of another interpreter who is better able to communicate with the client.

Interprets over the telephone for clients calling to schedule appointments or calling for other reasons.

Serve as chaperone as needed.

May translate written materials as needed.

Adheres to health center's policies at all times, particularly the policy on confidentiality.

MINIMUM SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

Medical Interpreter Certificate required from an accredited institution.

Must be fluent in English and another language spoken by clients of the health center.

Excellent interpersonal skills required including sensitivity to individual and cultural issues that may affect the information gathering process. Utilizes tact, courtesy, and discretion.

Must possess the ability to maintain a stable presence under stress, including instances when clients may be highly emotional.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Works in a busy community health center in a downtown business district. Work is often stressful due to time pressures and the emotional needs of clients.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Mostly standing and walking required. Visual acuity sufficient for frequent reading. Hearing acuity sufficient for holding conversations with or without audio devices.

About us: BNHC is a multicultural organization that collaborates with community agencies and residents to provide high quality comprehensive health care. We are committed to health promotion and disease prevention. BNHC began providing services in 1994 in a mobile medical van operating out of a church parking lot. Since then, the center has rapidly grown to provide desperately needed services to low-income and marginalized populations in the greater Brockton area. BNHC is committed to providing care that is responsive to community health needs and is linguistically, culturally and financially accessible. BNHC serves an extremely diverse patient population including Brazilian, Cape Verdean, Haitian, Latino, Portuguese, African American and Caucasian, 77% of whom live in poverty.

BNHC is committed to providing a safe and heathy environment for patients and staff. As a condition of employment, employees, to include new hires, are required to be fully vaccinated to include the most recent COVID 19 booster and annual flu vaccines, with the exception of those who have documented medical or religious exemptions, that must be approved by BNHC according to its protocols. Additional vaccines may be required based on the recommendation of the CDC. New hires who are not yet vaccinated for flu or COVID can arrange to be vaccinated on site.