Welsh Language Standards
We operate in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards.
The duties which come from the standards mean that organisations should not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language, together with promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language, making it easier for people to use in their day-to-day-life.
Our aim is to enable everyone who receives or uses our services to do so through the medium of Welsh or English, according to personal choice and to encourage other users and providers to use and promote the Welsh language within the health sector.
What are the Welsh Language Standards?
From 30 May 2019 NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership is required to conform with the Welsh Language Standards. The Welsh Language Standards have now replaced the previous Welsh Language Scheme. The Standards clearly set out our obligations to deliver our services through the medium of Welsh to the highest of standards.
We are required to conform and comply the Welsh Language Standards Compliance notice for Velindre University NHS Trust.
A copy of the Standards can be viewed by clicking this link:
160714-wls-health-regulations-en.pdf (gov.wales)
A copy of the Compliance Notice can be viewed here:
Under the Standards, Welsh should not be treated less favourably than English.
Everyone who works here is responsible for complying with the Welsh Language Standards. Every member of staff is familiarised with the requirements of the Standards through our induction programme and awareness training. Staff are also supported to learn basic Welsh language skills and up-skill existing skills in the Welsh language. Staff are made aware of the Standards that are relevant to their roles.
Our Directors, Heads of Services, Managers and Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that their teams comply with the Standards and ensure that their teams are skilled and experienced in the delivery of services in both Welsh and English.
We recognise the value of Welsh language skills amongst our staff. It is an important communicative tool to be able to provide the highest quality services.
Aim of the Welsh Language Standards
The duties which come from the standards mean that organisations should not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language, together with promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language, making it easier for people to use the Welsh language in their day-to-day-life, if that is their preference.
When you receive a service from a public organisation in Wales, you should be able to receive your correspondence in Welsh. When calling an organisation, the recipient should answer your call bilingually. If you have made an enquiry or complaint to an organisation, and that you have done so in Welsh, your choice of language should not result in any delays. The organisation should also implement policies and record keeping in Welsh.
To summarise, the standards:
- make it clear to organisations what their duties are in relation to the Welsh language
- make it clearer to Welsh speakers about the services they can expect to receive in Welsh
- make Welsh language services more resilient, consistent and improve their quality.
The Welsh Language Unit at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
The Welsh Language Unit at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership promotes and encourages the use of the Welsh language in the workplace and supports the organisation to function and deliver services bilingually. Our work includes supporting departments to develop Welsh medium services, providing a translation service, to advise and arrange Welsh courses for staff and ensuring that the organisation is compliant with the Welsh Language Standards.
We have internal monitoring, performance and governance processes in place so to ensure that the Welsh language is at the forefront of service planning and delivery.
Working with other organisations
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership works with other organisations to promote the use of the Welsh Language and ensure that we have a bilingual working environment, a stronger and robust Welsh language service that is available to other NHS Staff, Service Users, Patients, Stakeholders and the Public at large.
We have a Welsh Language Unit within NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership to offer support, guidance and advice to our directorates and service delivery teams as well as a team of translators. We offer translation support services to a number of NHS Organisations in Wales and England.
In order to promote the Welsh language in the workplace and offer staff every opportunity to integrate with the language we also work with Mentrau Iaith (local Welsh language forums), National Centre for Learning Welsh, Universities, Colleges and Schools in our catchment areas and other voluntary organisations that offer opportunities for our staff to socialise and access Welsh language and culture in their local communities.
On a more strategic level, we work with Health Boards, Trusts, Specialist Health Authorities, Welsh Government and the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office to ensure that we continue to develop and maintain further develop a high level of Welsh language services.
Reports
