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Provincial Language Service

The Provincial Language Service provides interpreting and translation services to BC health authorities and private physician offices.
What we do

We help organizations provide services to their linguistically and culturally diverse clients including immigrants, refugees, official minority language speakers and members of the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing community through high-quality interpreting and translation.

 
PLS grew out of the Office for Cross-Cultural Care and Diversity (OCCC). The OCCC provided culturally and linguistically appropriate services at BC Children’s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. 

In 2003, the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) created PLS so all PHSA programs and other B.C. health care organizations could benefit from these specialized language services.



 
At Provincial Language Service, quality assurance is a multi-level process embedded in all aspects of our service delivery.  Our processes contribute to a culture of continuous improvement of our services and organization.

Provincial Language Service, as a program of PHSA, adheres to strict policies and procedures on professional conduct.  Any complaint or incident regarding Provincial Language Service (PLS), PLS’ procedures, PLS’ staff, an interpreter, intervenor, translator or any other PLS contracted service provider is documented, investigated and tracked.

Complaints as well as compliments can be submitted through email, video call, fax, phone or mail. All feedback will be handled by Provincial Language Service Quality Assurance (PLS QA), which is dedicated to soliciting and receiving feedback from recipients of services. Interpreters, intervenors and translators will be notified immediately of any feedback that is received about them.

• Who can give feedback: Patients, Health Care Workers (requestor or end user), Interpreters, Intervenors and translators

• What can they give feedback on: Provincial Language Service procedures, customer services/Interpreting/translation services received

Methods for Submitting Feedback

mouse_icon.JPG Email: Submit feedback via email to 
                        plsqualityassurance@phsa.ca

video call.JPG Video Call: Feedback via video call.
                                Email plsqualityassurance@phsa.ca to
                                schedule a video call

fax.JPG Fax: 604-297-9304

phone.JPG Phone: Submit feedback via phone 604-297-8400

mail.JPG Mail: Provincial Language Service Quality Assurance
                    1795 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5V 6E3

 
Provincial Language Service QA mainly investigates a complaint reported by the health care worker (please see below for patient complaints) of an inappropriate action that PLS’ staff, interpreter, intervenor or translator has violated the: 

• Westcoast Association of Visual Language Interpreters (for Sign Language) or 
• National Standard of Canada Translation Services (for Translation services)

When a health care worker has a complaint or concern about Provincial Language Service (PLS), PLS’ procedures, customer services, interpreter/translator or the interpreting/translation services received, our job, with each complaint is to listen, investigate, document and provide an outcome.

listen_investigate_document_outcome.jpg

When feedback is reported to PLS, PLS QA responds within 24 hours acknowledging receiving the service recipient’s feedback.  PLS QA then notifies parties involved and asks them to follow up.  In some cases, PLS QA may need to contact the individual reporting the feedback for additional details.

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PLS is connected to community-based agencies and programs across British Columbia. These partnerships allow PLS to harmoniously connect expertise in service delivery with the specific needs of the local community.

 
Our highly qualified language and customer service specialists have many years of experience working across language and cultures in: 

  • Project management
  • Linguistics
  • Business administration
  • Communications
  • Other related areas


 

The Language Access policy directs PHSA staff on the appropriate use of language services to reduce or eliminate language barriers to optimize the delivery of safe and equitable care. 


Please view the policy by visiting the Shared Health Organizations Portal (SHOP) website, which can be accessed anytime.

 

We collect your personal information as authorized under section 26(c) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ("FIPPA") to provide interpreting services to you. We collect your name, address, telephone number and purpose of visit. If you have questions or concerns about how your information is collected or used, you may contact:


Provincial Language Service

Phone number: 604-297-8400

Email: pls@phsa.ca

Content

 

We give high priority to quality assurance and your feedback is important to us. 


Interpreting or translation services: send questions, feedback and concerns to plsqualityassurance@phsa.ca. We are committed to constant improvements in service delivery to all our customers.

Provincial Language Service adheres to strict policies and procedures on professional conduct. Any complaint or incident regarding an interpreter, health care agency, external customer or Provincial Language Service staff member is documented, investigated and tracked: Interpreter incident reporting process.


PHSA facilities: contact the Patient Care Quality Office if your feedback is related to PHSA facilities, staff or services outside of interpreting and translation services.




In the community

Provincial Language Service is committed to providing top-quality language services for people who are accessing health care services across BC.

We believe in building stronger connections and being involved in the delivery of language services (interpreter, translation and services to Francophones) to improve equitable access, and we have been actively engaging with community members to better understand their current needs. 

Events

COVID-19 Q&A with Dr. Martin Lavoie


Do you have questions about COVID-19? Join us for a special Q&A session for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing community with Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Martin Lavoie.

Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Zoom - Register here

We look forward to seeing you there!




Join us
PLS welcomes qualified language professionals to join our team. We offer competitive contracts to our freelance interpreters and translators. As a PLS contractor you will have access to several benefits.

Interpreters 

Benefits:
  • Connection with a network of professionals like yourself
  • Competitive rates
  • Support from PLS Staff
  • Technology to support coordination of your assignments
  • Liability coverage
  • Ongoing professional development opportunities

If you are interested in sending your resume to The Provincial Language Service please email plsapplications@phsa.ca. 

Provincial Language Service (PLS) is looking to expand their team in the Fraser Valley and East Fraser Valley areas. Searching for experienced professional interpreters to join our roster of freelance interpreters. View recruitment posting Here.

Requirements:
  • Certification/accreditation from a recognized post-secondary institution or professional membership body, such as Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC (STIBC) or another CTTIC member.
  • Post-Secondary equivalent to degree in Interpreting/Translation and or a minimum of 60 hours of interpreting training completed.
  • Fluency in English and an additional spoken language or languages
  • Interpreting experience
  • References
  • Willing to provide a criminal record report
  • WSBC coverage

Translators 

Requirements: 
(one of the following)
  • Hold a certification or is a membership or accredited translator of an accreditation body
  • Hold a bachelor degree for a language related program and have completed at least 30 translation projects in the past 3 

Other language professionals 

PLS engages other language professionals on a contract and as-needed basis. These include bilingual desktop publishers, graphic designers and voice-over talents. To be considered for future contracts, please send a cover letter and your resume by email. 

Feedback

We give high priority to quality assurance and your feedback is important to us. 

Interpreting or translation services: send questions, feedback and concerns to plsqualityassurance@phsa.ca. In your email please provide your name, contact information and brief description of the incident. We are committed to constant improvements in service delivery to all our customers.

Provincial Language Service adheres to strict policies and procedures on professional conduct. Any complaint or incident regarding an interpreter, health care agency, external customer or Provincial Language Service staff member is documented, investigated and tracked: Interpreter incident reporting process.


PHSA facilities: contact the Patient Care Quality Office if your feedback is related to PHSA facilities, staff or services outside of interpreting and translation services. 

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