Leisure & Sports Centre (Frontline Staff) BSL Deaf Awareness Training
Raise your standards of deaf awareness in the workplace
Did you know that there are 12 million people across the UK with some form of hearing loss?
That means that there will be deaf and hard of hearing members of the public who may lipread and who may use British sign Language (BSL) as their first language accessing your facilities on a regular basis.
How many of those customers, leave having had a positive experience with you?
How many will have had an easy interaction from the front desk to the café staff, to the Gym Instructor to the pool attendant/Lifeguard?
You’ll have access to our expertise and we will work closely with you in order to help your business operations become as diverse as possible.
Below is an outline of Signature Approved BSL Frontline Staff Deaf Awareness Course.
For more information about Study Sharpe's deaf awareness training courses or any other service we offer call 07746 060 547 Today!
Why train your Frontline Staff to service your deaf/Hard of hearing Customers and visitors?
If you run a Leisure or Sports Centre then you might be interested to know that 1 in 6 of your potential visitors and patients will be deaf or hard of hearing and may be trying to lipread you.
Miscommunication is all too prevalent within service based settings for deaf and hard of hearing people. This then leads to mistrust of the services you provide and at worst, can cause unnecessary confusion and embarrassment for deaf patients which could so easily be avoided with appropriate Deaf Awareness training. With the wearing of face masks during the pandemic, this situation has worsened significantly for people who lipread to communicate and understand what is being said around them.
How do Study Sharpe help Leisure & Sport Centre Frontline Staff?
Here at Study Sharpe, we can support you to provide your deaf/Hard of Hearing customers with the best experience possible by offering your staff teams invaluable and worthwhile Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language Basics training.
Our courses will enable you to break down communication barriers and to enable equal access and inclusion for potential deaf clientele. Don’t wait until it’s too late and your staff are faced with an awkward exchange with a deaf customer where communication has broken down which results in an unpleasant complaint or review.
How do we enable your Frontline staff and Teams to become Deaf Friendly?
- We offer remote flexible, bespoke training courses that can cater for your establishment’s needs.
- We are flexible to your staffing rotas by offering daytime, evening or weekend courses to suit, offering a short course of tasters or condensed training packages.
- We will train your staff in basic British Sign Language (BSL) phrases/vocabulary to enable basic conversations with BSL users in all aspects of your customer services.
By Engaging in the Access to Work scheme for deaf employees you can reduce the costs of enabling an inclusive and accessible workplace.
What accreditations do you have?
We are proud to be a centre for Signature, the largest provider of accredited Sign Language courses in the UK who offer nationally recognised qualifications. We are able to offer to deliver the BSL101 Introduction to British Sign Language (Frontline Staff) Certificate and also the British Sign Language BSL101 Frontline Staff course to your Frontline reception/customer facing staff. This course covers basic communication skills and provides you with the essential tools to enable you to communicate about a range of topics in simple, everyday language use. This course is delivered over 10 weeks but can be condensed into 5 longer sessions for ease of commitment.
Alternatively, if this doesn’t suit, we can offer tailor made bespoke courses that offer similar content to the above course but are designed to suit the needs of your workplace and the needs of your key staff specifically.
Who is this Frontline Staff Deaf Awareness course for?
Unit BSL101 (Frontline Staff) is designed to provide a nationally accredited unit of BSL skills for people who work in customer facing or reception services that may come into contact with Deaf people or colleagues.
This unit can be done online or face to face at a time that suits your staffing rotas and cover. You will receive an accredited e-certificate once passing the course and you will be able to advertise that your leisure centre can boast deaf friendly, deaf Aware staff that can communicate in basic BSL to their deaf/Hard of hearing customers.
Staff can then choose to take the further two remaining units (BSL102/3) to obtain the full Level 1 BSL Award which is a nationally recognised qualification.
This will not only enhance the customer service within the organisation but will provide invaluable Continuing Professional Development and skill set for each staff member that undertakes the training we offer.
Leisure & Sports Centre BSL101 Brief course outline
- Address and greet and take leave of another BSL user
- Learn the Fingerspelling alphabet for names and places
- Use and recognise strategies for asking for clarification
- Ask for and give relevant information about self and others
- Use and recognise numbers in different contexts
- Describe a range of weather conditions
- Give and receive travel information
- Describe and give simple directions inside and outside
- Any additional role or staff specific communication requirements
Additional Course Topics?
In addition to the above topics, we also will also give you an introductory insight into the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture, as we believe this is an integral part of people’s understanding of Deaf people’s heritage and culture.
How do I find out more about Leisure & Sports Centre Frontline Staff Deaf Awareness Training Courses?
Interested in our specialist courses for professionals and business owners? Then contact us today on 07746 060 547 or click the link below.
Relevant Deaf Awareness Support Articles for Leisure & Sport Centre Training
UK Deaf Sport 2015 Participation survey highlighted 1 in 5 deaf people couldn’t access sport and physical activity opportunities due to communication barriers. We know that over 70,000 deaf people use British Sign Language as their main form of communication which can be a barrier when accessing services – both sport and non-sport.
As a result, members of this community risk high levels of isolation and challenges with their mental health.With Government recommended Covid-19 restrictions in place and the increase use of masks, there is an even great need for this area of work to support the sector, including all staff and volunteers who work in the leisure centres. We know that with frontline workers being required to wear a mask in cafes and restaurants attached to gyms and leisure sites, there is a continued challenge for deaf people to interact and enjoy the experience.
Article Credits-link
People confronting deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss face challenges every day that impact their quality of life.
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) recognises the importance that inclusive communications play in participation to increase deaf people's participation in sport and physical activity.
UK Deaf Sport is the National Disability Sports Organisation for deaf sport across the UK and work to encourage more deaf people to participate, enjoy and excel at sport. In Sport England's latest Active People Survey, the least active participation group is deaf and hard of hearing people but research shows that latent demand is high.
Article Credits-link
Husband and wife, Ishtiaq Hussain and Kerry Ward Hussain from Stourbridge recently qualified as fitness instructors through the multi-award winning InstructAbility programme. The project, funded by Sport England, was created by Aspire, the spinal injury charity in partnership with YMCAfit, to enable unemployed, disabled people to train as gym instructors. The newly qualified instructors then work to engage more disabled people in fitness sessions.
“We’re absolutely delighted the InstructAbility work placement has proven a resounding success and provided the opportunity for us to continue and expand deaf friendly sessions at our facility. I am extremely thankful for Ish's determination and the support provided by BSL interpreters that has proved instrumental in incorporating deaf friendly sessions into our core activity programme.
”Shtiaq and Kerry who are both profoundly deaf, have personal experience of the difficulties in communicating with staff and members whilst in the gym. They were often unable to access the advice and knowledge of how to develop their fitness.
Article Credits-link
What Will the Cost Be?
We offer a range of fees that vary depending on the type of training, delivery (face to face or remotely), length of course and content. Courses can vary between tasters (2-3 hours), half day, full day or condensed 5 week or longer courses/rolling programmes of 10 weeks. Call Today to discuss the course to suit your business.
Do You Offer Bespoke & Individualised Courses?
We can tailor our courses according to what you are looking for in terms of staff or individual training delivery.We will discuss with you your precise requirements and then create an individualised learning plan for your needs.
Why Choose Study Sharpe Deaf Awareness Training Courses?
Emm Sharpe is the Owner and Founder of Study Sharpe Deaf Awareness Training Courses. She first became involved in the Deaf Community in the late 80’s working for a charity supporting Deaf and Disabled young people in the classroom.
Emm has been through many years of teaching and training experience and is an advocate for Deaf Awareness, accessibility, and inclusion for Deaf people.
She has worked within the prison service, healthcare, education in both Primary and Secondary schools and Further Education and Higher Education sectors.
Emm holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Deaf Studies from Bristol University where she was fortunate to be taught by top Deaf Professionals. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, as well as BSL Levels 1 – 3.
As a hearing teacher, she can offer an invaluable bi-lingual experience with hearing learners, to ensure the initial few classes are not too daunting.
Having worked with and personally known many Deaf people over the years and for various charities supporting Deaf and disabled young people, she has extensive experience of Deaf Awareness and Deaf Culture.
More about Deaf awareness training
Deaf Awareness Training Course FAQ's
What Is BSL (British Sign Language)?
‘British Sign Language (BSL) is the preferred language of over 87,000 Deaf people in the UK for whom English may be a second or third language (A total of 151,000 individuals in the UK who can use BSL - this figure does not include professional BSL users, Interpreters, Translators, etc unless they use BSL at home).’ For More information click here
Why choose a Signature Accredited Course?
Who is Signature?
Signature is a national charity and are also the leading awarding body for deaf communication qualifications in the UK. They have been awarding British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications for the last 40 years and have supported more than 450,000 people to learn BSL.
What is a Signature accredited course?
A Signature accredited course is a course that is certified and authentic in entity. Signature’s qualifications are nationally recognised and regulated by Ofqual (the office of the qualifications and Examination’s regulator). This means that these qualifications reliably indicate the knowledge, skills and understanding needed by learners and that they have demonstrated through the assessment process what has been achieved. This gives potential learners the confidence in the qualifications undertaken.
How does becoming a Signature approved centre work?
To become a Signature approved centre and to deliver Signature qualifications, potential centres must undergo a strict, formal approval process. Each potential centre teacher that applies, must be able to demonstrate to Signature that they hold relevant teaching qualifications, professional experience in the subject they wish to teach and the relevant BSL qualifications to a higher level than that which they wish to deliver. Other specialist higher level qualifications in teaching practice are also highly recommended and desirable.
Signature regulate their qualifications and this formal approval process maintains this ethos.
Approved Centre’s processes during assessments are regularly checked for Quality Assurance purposes, to ensure that centres are adhering to all Signature Assessment guidelines, and that no learners are treated less favourably than others during the process. This ultimately means that every learner’s experience is of the highest quality.
Who would benefit from Signature approved courses?
The learner is at the heart of all we do here at Study Sharpe.
All learners undertaking a Signature qualification with us will be guaranteeing they will not only receive teaching expertise that is endorsed by Signature, but they will also gain a qualification that will be recognised by employers and industries alike.
Last but by no means least and perhaps the most important reason for undertaking Signature qualifications with us, is that you will be able to join the growing number of people in the UK who can communicate with a deaf BSL user. Through our courses, you will become more Deaf Aware in the process, understand more about the Deaf Community and their rich heritage and Culture, thereby raising awareness to other people and sharing the benefits to all of learning BSL.
So why not start your exciting BSL journey with us today?
What Solutions Does Deaf Awareness Training Offer?
The solutions that Deaf Awareness training offers are:
- Create an inclusive and accessible business which will protect your reputation and increase its value
- Ensure that the business culture is one of diversity and inclusion
- Protection against legal action and tribunals
- Open opportunities to employee workers from a larger pool of talent
- Protect your business reputation against negative reviews or comments in local/national press, online forums and on social media.
By Engaging in the Access to Work scheme for deaf employees you can reduce the costs of enabling an inclusive and accessible workplace.
What is the benefit of Deaf Awareness Training for Businesses?
Why should we worry about Deaf Awareness Training?
- Are you a business without any Deaf Awareness?
- Are you making false claims about the your compliance with regards Deaf Awareness Understanding and Training?
- Are you at risk of complaints/legal action from Deaf People who are accessing your services but not feeling included or having difficulty using your business?
In the current marketplace social media plays a large part in how our businesses are perceived both, internally and externally, and offers instant feedback to our services or products.
You could be at risk of:
- Failing to provide an accessible workplace to potential Deaf employees.
- Hefty compensation costs
- Employee tribunals
- Negative reviews on Local/National news sites, public forums and through social media
- Negative reputation
What costs are involved per person?
This will depend on the amount of content, the length of the course and your specific requirements.
What is the course content?
Our courses cover the following topics (this list is not exhaustive and may vary according to service need):
Deaf Awareness strategies including:
- Deaf Attention gain (Appropriate ways of gaining the attention of a Deaf Person)
- Experiences of Lipreader's (Experiences of people who use lipreading to understand and communicate effectively when mouths are obscured)
- How to conduct accessible online meetings
- Working appropriately with interpreters
- Assistive technology & equipment
- Access to work scheme for deaf employees
BSL signs & phrases:
- BSL Alphabet and role of fingerspelling
- How to introduce yourself and welcome customers
- How to repair a breakdown in communication
- How to end a conversation appropriately
- Discussing travel/transport
- Directing people inside a building and out and about
- Discussing the weather
- Discussing family
- Numbers (expressing the difference between money, age & calendar)
Deaf Culture:
We will delve into the interesting and engaging world of Deaf Culture and Deaf Arts.
What are the maximum participants at one workshop/course?
Delivering face to face courses/workshops will depend on the delivery space/capacity you have available. If we are teaching more than the British Sign Language (BSL) phrases, then a smaller group will mean attendees will have a more personalised experience with the trainer and the content.
An ideal number for a workshop/taster would be 16 – 20 participants.
For our longer courses, the ideal maximum number would be 10 – 14.
For remote learning, if it is a presentation/taster/seminar, then there is no limit to the numbers who will attend.
If we are delivering a 2-hour online taster then we would ask for no more than 10 – 12 participants per session.
What will you learn?
You will learn a variety of topics; both theoretical and practical. We cover Deaf Awareness strategies, Deaf etiquette, British Sign Language basics as well as the main differences between hearing culture and Deaf culture.
Who are the courses designed for?
Our courses are for everyone; whether it be individuals, families, SME’s or larger corporate businesses - we can cater for you.
How long do your courses have to be?
It depends on your individual needs/staff availability and the aim of the training.
Our courses can be short tasters, half day or full day workshops or 5-week intensive courses or full length 10-week courses that can be arranged on a rolling programme basis.
Our courses can also be bespoke in nature and tailored to your requirements.
Find out how we are helping companies like yours with Deaf Awareness training.
Drop us a line
STUDY SHARPE
Grisleys Farm, Cole Pole Ln, Stogursey,
Bridgwater TA5 1PY
+44 7746 060 547
info@studysharpe.co.uk