ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Collect and assess assignment information.

1.1. Clarify the scope of assignments with clients, including languages, terms and conditions, and any specific requirements.

1.2. Analyse background information for details of the nature and conditions of assignments.

1.3. Provide information to clients on terms, conditions and conventions to reach an agreed approach.

1.4. Identify performance expectations and their implications for undertaking the assignment.

2. Assess ability to complete assignment.

2.1. Evaluate personal competence and preparedness to satisfy assignment requirements and areas for negotiation with clients.

2.2. Identify and assess limits and responsibility, and their implications.

2.3. Seek advice to inform decision-making process.

3. Respond to assignment proposal.

3.1. Review and maintain a record of decision-making process.

3.2. Advise client or agency of decision to accept or decline the assignment in a professional and timely manner.

Required skills

analytical skills to assess personal competence to meet task requirements

communication skills to discuss translating or interpreting process, outcomes and potential difficulties

interpersonal skills to:

relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of levels of communication

seek advice to inform assessment of assignment

make clients aware of translating and interpreting protocols and expectations

convey decision to accept or decline assignment in a professional and timely manner

language skills to negotiate about cross-cultural expectations

language and literacy skills to read client-provided information and establish its key features

numeracy skills to calculate costs and contract fees

negotiation skills to clarify client requirements, performance expectations, agreement terms and conditions, and agreed approach, and to reach a mutually accepted agreement

problem-solving skills to address areas of skill needs, logistics and potential ethical issues

research skills to gather information to assist in negotiating assignments

Required knowledge

personal safety and welfare issues related to specific assignments and potential risks

professional procedures, ethical practices and business standards applicable to negotiating an assignment

roles and responsibilities of translators and interpreters and their associated skills

relevant code of ethics

source and target languages to determine scope and expectations of the project

tools and equipment relevant to project

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms the ability to clarify required approach to assignments with a range of clients to reach agreement on terms and conditions. This includes:

analysing information about the nature and scope of assignment

negotiating agreed approach and conditions with clients

undertaking risk analysis and identifying and addressing concerns

establishing preparedness and personal competence to successfully complete assignment

accepting and declining assignments within required timeframe

maintaining a record of agreements and preparation outcomes for future reference.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit of competency will make use of scenarios, case studies, experiences and, where possible, examples of interactions with colleagues and clients which illustrate issues of negotiating assignments.

Resources for assessment include:

a range of clients and environments where assignments are clarified, negotiated, accepted and declined

assignment and contractual documentation

business records

relevant codes of practice

Assessment should be gathered to demonstrate negotiated agreements with a range of different client requirements and conditions and with examples of both accepting and declining assignments. Evidence may include examples of formal and informal contracts, and should also include evidence of decision making where there are ethical, business and professional issues influencing decisions.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Scope of assignments may include:

source and target languages

stakeholders

preparation of supporting resources

required equipment and tools, including software

responsibilities of role

confidentiality

client awareness of professional terms, conditions and expectations

environmental issues such as sight lines, lighting and seating position

for interpreting:

topic, purpose and nature of assignment

setting, and mode of interpreting appropriate to setting

parties involved and relevant social and cultural requirements

date, time and location

duration

for translating:

assignment schedule, including stage deadlines

field, subject and topic

previous translations and translators

volume of material to be translated

type of technology to be used and who will provide

type of text and its end use

application of assignment-specific style guide conventions

translation memory tools.

Terms and conditions may include:

assignment timeframe

financial arrangements, such as:

costings

expense reimbursement

invoicing and schedule of payment

necessary arrangements for travel and accommodation

contract conditions, including variation and termination procedures

Agreed approach may include:

increased client awareness and acknowledgement of the role of the practitioner

addressing potential misunderstandings

clarifying expectations

determining alternative strategies with client where assignment is accepted

conditions applying to known requirements exceeding personal competence

for interpreting:

chuchotage, consecutive or simultaneous interpreting mode

team or collaborative interpreting

for translating:

translating as part of a team

translating alone

Performance expectations may include:

background resources for preparation

privacy and confidentiality agreements

culture-specific requirements

limits, responsibilities and risks associated with role

attesting to work

client glossaries

equipment and technology

acknowledgement of professional standards and codes of practice

for interpreting:

sight translation

setting and register

physical parameters relating to such things as:

background noise

sight lines and visibility

voice projection

transcribing

type of interpreting service

for translating:

formatting or text-processing requirements

style guides

presenting non-text components

required timeframe for completed translation

Personal competence may include:

ability to meet performance expectations of required languages, including passive and active facility

familiarity with context, topic and terminology

mastery of register appropriate to audience and setting

previous relevant experience

relevant social, cultural or kinship factors

Preparedness may relate to:

checking required equipment and software

developing familiarity with topic and subject matter

identifying conflict of interest

identifying relevant social, cultural or kinship factors

for translating:

checking formatting or text-processing requirements

Limits and responsibility may include:

health and safety concerns

legal and accountability issues

potential conflict of interest

personal competence and risks of miscommunication

duty of care

Maintain a record may include:

client and assignment details

formal and informal contracts

exchange of communication on:

agreed duties

assignment conditions

assignment requirements

explanation of why the assignment cannot be undertaken