BILCS

We have been working with Birmingham Integrated Language and Communication Services (BILCS) since 2006. It is the arm of the NHS in Birmingham that looks after all the interpreting and translation services.

The majority of the work we have done with BILICS consists of face-to-face interpreting and has included translation work. Due to the high volume of work we have had to turn round and the vast variety of languages required to service this client, we have implemented a very efficient and ongoing recruitment campaign – and enacted a meticulous administrative process to ensure  quality of delivery.

To ensure we could meet the customer’s needs our IT department developed a bespoke database to upload the large volume of work to – to ensure efficiency and accuracy in delivering assignment details.

Providing Quality

Due to our extensive database of interpreters, we can book and confirm availability of appropriate interpreters within minutes of booking request. We provide short-notice bookings when interpreters are needed immediately, and facilitate continual dialogue within the healthcare system of one of the UK’s most diverse cities.

Interpreters are booked taking into account, gender, locality, dialect, experience and continuity for the client.

Fill rates, language and service availability:

  • Our current fill rates for this contract are 98%.
  • We have over 100 languages on our books.
  • We provide a 24/7/365 service managed by our out of hours team.

Added Value and Innovation

We make it our business to engage with new migrant communities to ensure we can deliver a wide range of languages.

Highlights

  • Short-notice bookings
  • Face-to-face interpreting
  • Translation work

AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services have delivered face to face language translation and interpreting services to NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit since creation of the CSU in April 2013. Prior to 2013 (and from 2006), AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services worked for the respective local primary care trust delivering face to face language translation and interpreting services. They are a respected supplier within our large supply chain, working alongside our cohort of freelance interpreters and other private suppliers to deliver translation and interpreting services in Birmingham. We have flexible arrangements with our supply chain partners and as such the volume of work delivered by AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services has fluctuated in line with our requirements. 

The service delivered by AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services is good and in line with our contractual arrangement with them. Operational queries are dealt with promptly by their Managing Director and there are no outstanding issues to date. Contract volume is subject to variance, depending on the needs of our client and availability. AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services have delivered services that are both planned and on short notice on occasion. The maximum number of jobs delivered per annum by AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services was 20,000 in 2015. AtoZ Interpreting and Translation Services are able to provide interpreters who are fluent in circa 100 languages, including but not limited to Polish, Urdu, Albanian, Italian, Slovak and Hindi.

Tony Matthews, Director of Operations (Central), BILCS