Independent Technical Review of Qualifications and Experience Requirements for the Provision of Spoken Language Interpreting

This report, undertaken between March and September 2022, reviews the technical qualifications and experience requirements for spoken language interpreters deployed on Ministry of Justice assignments. It was published on 17 March 2025. 

This review of standards and qualifications, commissioned in 2022, provides technical evidence for the independent review commissioned by Lord Wolfson on spoken language qualification and experience requirements to support the effective delivery of Language Services across the MoJ.

The intended outcomes of the commissioned review were:

• an independently defined qualifications framework based on the technical interpreting requirements of MoJ assignments.
• a supporting ‘implementation strategy’ which captures the technical framework and suggests the means of practical application including: associated training needs/standards, operational and cost impacts and implementation recommendations (if required).

These recommendations and the framework have both informed the new MoJ contract requirements for spoken word language services, which were put out to tender in autumn 2024 and are expected to be awarded in 2026.

The Ministry of Justice's letter to John Worne, CIOL CEO, confirming the Review and their expectations for the new contracts is attached below. Click on the image to see the PDF.