Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter

Job Posting

Title:

Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter

Hiring Department:

Department of Psychiatry

Position Open To:

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled

Hours:

20

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt from FLSA

Earliest

Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027

Location:

AUSTIN, TX

Job Details:

General Notes

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Dell Medical School is looking for a Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter. This position has an end date of 8/31/2027, renewable based upon availability of funding, work performance, and progress toward goals.

Purpose

The Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter facilitates communication between a deaf or hard-of-hearing healthcare provider (psychologist) and patients and healthcare providers in clinical, educational, research, academic, and administrative settings to the Lead Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter, this role supports a Deaf healthcare professional within a designated interpreter team model and collaborates closely with physicians, behavioral health clinicians, nurses, and administrative staff to support pediatric patient care.

Key responsibilities include providing designated interpreting during behavioral health assessments and facilitating communication across professional settings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Interpretation Services

• Provides accurate and timely designated interpretation during medical consultations, procedures, and patient education sessions and other professional settings with mental/behavioral health specialization.

• Facilitates clear communication between the healthcare provider (psychologist) and patients and healthcare providers.

• Maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to HIPAA regulations.

• Maintains awareness and monitoring of hearing-deaf power differentials and strive to minimize them

Training and Development

• Provides training to healthcare staff on effective use of interpreter services.

• Develops and updates training materials.

• Participates in continuing education to stay current with medical terminology and best practices.

Administrative Duties

• Maintains accurate records of interpretation services provided.

• Working with designated interpreter team to schedule interpretation sessions and manages interpreter resources.

Other duties as identified by department

MARGINAL OR PERIODIC FUNCTIONS:

Community Outreach

• Engages with community organizations to promote interpreter services.

Emergency Interpretation

• Provides interpretation services during emergency situations.

Research Participation

• Assists in research projects related to language access and healthcare outcomes.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

Interpersonal Savvy

• Relates well to all kinds of people, builds constructive and effective relationships.

• Examples:
  Builds rapport with patients, communicates effectively with healthcare providers, navigates cultural differences.

Customer Focus

• Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.

• Examples:
  Ensures patient satisfaction, addresses patient concerns promptly, provides high-quality interpretation services.

Decision Quality

• Makes sound decisions based on analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment.

• Examples:
  Evaluates the accuracy of translations, resolves communication issues, prioritizes interpretation requests.

Ethics and Values

• Adheres to an appropriate and effective set of core values and beliefs.

• Examples:
  Maintains patient confidentiality, follows ethical guidelines, demonstrates integrity in all interactions.

Learning on the Fly

• Learns quickly when facing new problems, open to change.

• Examples:
  Adapts to new medical terminology, incorporates feedback into practice, stays current with industry trends.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in (e.g., Linguistics, Translation, Healthcare). with at least 3 year(s) of experience in

• 3 years of relevant experience in American Sign Language interpretation.

• 2 years of general experience in healthcare settings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s Degree in (e.g., Linguistics, Translation, Healthcare) with at least 5 year(s) of experience in American Sign Language interpretation.

• 5 years of relevant experience in interpretation.

• 3 years of general experience in healthcare, pediatric, and/or behavioral healthcare settings.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

• Experience and qualifications consistent with professional sign language interpreting practice.

PREFERRED:

• Certification in a second language relevant to the patient…