The Interpreter is required to interpret what is said accurately and faithfully, without alteration and addition.
If there is any doubt about the accuracy of interpreting, it is appropriate to ask the interpreter what they have been saying.
To assist with accurate interpretation avoid the use of jargon. While interpreters are trained in medical terminology, jargon can lead to misunderstanding by the interpreter.
Note:

• Interpreters may need more words to explain the concept in the client's language
• Word for word translation would make absolutely no sense in other languages
• Cultural protocol may require that the interpreter feels it necessary to apologise for asking the question

Any one or more situations that indicate the need for a trained and competent interpreter should be used.

1. The client is not accompanied by a family member, support person or friend at the point of admission or treatment; or
2. there are no readily available family members, friends, support persons or staff members who can be contacted to interpret; or
3. the client does not wish to use a family member, friend, support person or staff member to interpret; or
4. both the client and/or family members express the need for a competent interpreter; or
5. staff need to determine a client's medical history or require the client to describe their ailment / injury - generally at admission or intake; or
6. the explanation of confidential or sensitive issues is involved e.g. termination of pregnancy, birth of a deformed child or treatment of sexually transmitted disease; or
7. the client and/or family are very distressed, emotional or traumatised and need to be reassured; or
8. the client is undergoing an invasive procedure or treatment intervention and needs to fully understand the risks, benefits and options before giving consent.
9. the client needs to understand the pre-operative and post-operative instructions; or
10. the client needs to understand discharge procedures and referrals including providing information about medication.
11. there is a need to manage overall communication with a client and family members through an entire episode of care.
12. the client is undergoing therapy, counselling and crisis intervention, under the Mental Health Act and their first or preferred language is not English (including Maori and New Zealand Sign Language) or the person is unable to understand English because of a physical disability.

In a situation that a competent interpreter is necessary, arrange for one if it is practical to do so.
Health providers exercising powers in respect of clients under the Mental Health Act should ensure that a competent interpreter is accessed where the clients preferred language is not English, although English is the clients' first language.

Untrained' interpreter refers to family members, friends, support persons, or anyone who has not had professional training as an interpreter.

• The client specifically requests the use of his/her family members and there are no conflicts of interest between the person acting as interpreter and the client; or
• In the absence of family members, the client agrees to the use a friend or a support person or a staff member to interpret, or
• The client and/or family members are not in an emotional or traumatised state.
• Senior consultants/ clinicians/ medical staff / managers are confident that the use of an untrained interpreter is adequate, appropriate and effective for the situation.
• Communicating simple instructions or non-medical related information e.g. explaining administration processes, conveying test results that are clear (i.e. there is no need for concern or future treatment), confirming a clinic time or appointment.
• In those emergency situations where there is insufficient time to obtain a trained or competent interpreter.
• Used in conjunction with trained telephone interpreters to provide overall management of communication for an entire episode of care for a client (e.g. the untrained interpreter can assist the district nurse or social worker to interpret the simple and general information while a trained telephone Interpreter facilitates the communication of medical-related or sensitive issues).

Note for health providers: the use of an untrained interpreter can be unsafe from a clinical safety perspective and can be culturally inappropriate: It is not recommended that:

• Untrained interpreters be used (see blew)
• Children under the age of 20 be used to interpret for parents.

• Omission (e.g. leaving out part of the sentence/explanation)
• Addition (adding their own words to those of the client's)
• Substitution (e.g. because the interpreter cannot think what is meant; or does not know an exact synonym, or concept does not exist in target language or culture)
• Role exchange (interpreter takes over session)
• Closed/open Statements (interpreter changes closed into open statements and vice versa)
• Normalization (strange statements 'normalized' for benefit of practitioner which increases possibility of misdiagnoses)
• Condensation (summarizing what client says)