Visa Information Note
Please note that although this employer offers a Certificate of Sponsorship, all international applicants must verify their eligibility requirements directly with the employer before applying. Visa eligibility may depend on factors such as your country of residence, professional qualifications, and language proficiency.
About the Position
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Female Bilingual Bank Workers (Interpreters) to join their team across Greater Manchester. This is a flexible, sessional position providing interpreting services in healthcare settings, with the opportunity to work with diverse communities and make a real difference in patient care.
Job Summary
This Band 3 pro-rata position is offered on a bank basis (as and when required) with flexible working patterns. The role involves providing confidential, efficient, and effective interpreting services to health professionals and patients in both hospital and community settings. Full daytime availability is compulsory to be considered for shortlisting.
Compensation Details
Payment is structured according to the following rates: Daytime (6am to 8pm) minimum 2 hours paid for face-to-face interpretation and video calls, with telephone interpretation paid for a minimum of 30 minutes. Out of Office Hours (8pm to 6am) and weekend hourly rate: minimum 1 hour paid for face-to-face and video interpretation, with telephone interpretation minimum 30 minutes paid at an enhanced rate. Additionally, mileage and parking are provided only from base/nearest hospital to another location, with no home-to-base mileage or parking for the first appointment to the base hospital.
Languages Required
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust seeks to update their Bank of Interpreters with a variety of languages to provide comprehensive interpreting services across hospitals in Oldham, Rochdale, Bury & Salford. All languages are required including but not limited to: Albanian, Tigrinya, Korean, Vietnamese, Kurdish, Somali, Amharic, Nepalese, Romanian, Oromo, Bambara, Wolof, Benin, Edo, Yoruba, Burmese, Bravanese/Brava, Zaghawa, Luganda, Tagalog/Filipino, Twi, Shona, Telugu, Thai, Fula, and Chichewa.
Essential Qualifications
Candidates must possess an interpreting qualification, such as Community Interpreting Level 2/3 or above, or a Bilingual Skills Certificate. Additionally, applicants must be able to communicate excellently and fluently in both English and another language. This requires exceptional linguistic abilities and cultural understanding to facilitate accurate communication in healthcare environments.
Desirable Qualifications
While not essential, possessing the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) would be advantageous for candidates applying to this position. This additional qualification demonstrates a higher level of professional competence and may strengthen your application.
Required Skills
Successful candidates must demonstrate the ability to use a variety of interpretation techniques including consecutive and simultaneous interpretation methods. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential to build rapport with both healthcare professionals and patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Additionally, proficiency with IT systems such as MS Teams and Accurx Flemming is required as interpretations are conducted via telephone and video platforms.
Essential Experience
Proven interpreting experience, preferably in a healthcare setting, is essential for this role. Candidates should have practical experience delivering accurate and confidential interpreting services in medical environments, understanding the sensitive nature of healthcare communications and maintaining professional boundaries at all times.
Knowledge Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the relevant communities for which they provide interpreting services. This includes understanding cultural nuances, healthcare beliefs, and communication preferences that may impact the interpretation process in clinical settings.
Working Pattern
This is a flexible working position offered on a bank basis, meaning hours are allocated as and when required. The service operates daily, out of hours, weekends, and bank holidays as needed. Full daytime availability (6am to 8pm) is compulsory to be considered for shortlisting, with additional availability during evenings, nights, and weekends being advantageous for securing more frequent assignments.
Training Requirements
Successful candidates must be available for induction training and orientation days provided by the Northern Care Alliance. These training sessions are designed to familiarize interpreters with NHS protocols, specific trust procedures, and the IT systems used for remote interpretation services.
Key Responsibilities
As a Female Bilingual Bank Worker (Interpreter), you will be responsible for providing confidential, efficient, and effective interpreting services to health professionals and patients in both hospital and community settings. You will facilitate clear communication between parties, ensuring accurate transmission of medical information, patient concerns, and healthcare instructions while maintaining strict confidentiality at all times.
Work Environment
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. As one of the largest NHS trusts in the region, the NCA operates across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and Salford, offering diverse working environments and opportunities to work with varied patient populations.
About the Employer
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) is committed to enhancing the health of the local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. The trust employs over 20,000 colleagues who share the organization’s three core values: care, appreciate, and inspire. By joining the NCA team, you become part of an organization dedicated to saving and improving lives in the communities it serves.
Career Development
The Northern Care Alliance offers more than just a job – it provides opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. The size and scale of the trust mean that interpreters can access additional training, specialisation opportunities, and pathways to more senior roles within the interpreting service or related healthcare support positions.
Benefits Package
Joining the Northern Care Alliance comes with a competitive benefits package including a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities, and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities. These benefits help interpreters achieve a better work-life balance while fulfilling their professional responsibilities in a meaningful role that makes a difference to patients’ lives.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please follow these steps:
- Visit the NHS Jobs website at [https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/](https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/)
- Search for reference number 236-NCA-AC188-25-D
- Complete the application form, ensuring you clearly state the language(s) you are applying for (failure to declare your language will make your application unsuccessful)
- Submit your application before the closing date of 01 January 2026
International Applicant Checklist
For international applicants requiring sponsorship:
- Verify your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa with the UKVI
- Gather required documentation including proof of qualifications and language proficiency
- Prepare criminal record certificates from any country where you have resided for 12+ months in the past 10 years
- Contact Fariza Hanif (Service Co-ordinator) at [email protected] or 01616278770 for sponsorship-specific inquiries
- Ensure your application clearly states your language combination and interpreting qualifications
Contact Information
For questions about the job, please contact: Fariza Hanif (Service Co-ordinator) at [email protected] or by phone at 01616278770. All inquiries regarding the application process, position requirements, or sponsorship eligibility should be directed to this contact point.
Equal Opportunities
The Northern Care Alliance is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or marital status. As a female-only position, applicants must identify as female to be eligible for consideration.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, which requires a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. All successful candidates will be required to undergo this check as a condition of employment.
Additional Information
For more detailed information about the advertised role, including specific job duties and responsibilities, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification documents available under the supporting documents section on the NHS Jobs website. You can also find additional information about working at the Northern Care Alliance by visiting the trust’s careers website at www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk.
