Profile Form

Name:Jenny Liddell

Job Title:Deaf Communication Project Manager

Department:NHS Deaf Services

  1. Picture

Individual or team(to be arranged)

  1. Who am I?

I manage the Deaf Communication Project. We’ve been around since 1996, providing training courses like Deaf Awareness, British Sign Language (BSL) and Lipreading. We also train deaf and hard of hearing people to become Tutors in these subjects. Having a deaf Tutor really adds value to the learning experience.

You’re meeting us at a really exciting time in our development. Starting next year, we’ll hopefully be offering ‘sensory awareness’ courses across NHS Highland(sensory covers both hearing and sight loss). It’s important for everyone to learn more about sensory loss, especially now that sight and hearing loss are so common. The Scottish Government reckons 1 in 6 Scots has a hearing loss and 1 in 30 a sight loss. That’s a huge number and it’s set to double over the next 20 years.

  1. What do I do? Describe your role?

As a training manager, I co-ordinate our Highland-wide network of classes and train and support our deaf Tutors.

The DCP service has taught in just about every imaginable Highland workplace, including HMP Porterfield, children’s nurseries, Dounreay, even on CalMac ferries! Many of our classes are in less exotic locations though, such as community centres or the Deaf Centre (16 Kenneth Street), Inverness. I’m based at the Deaf Centre, alongside the indispensable Alexia Greig, Project Administrator, and our award winning Tutor team.

Next year, we’ll be saying a fond farewell to one of our main funders, the European Social Fund, so I’m also now working on our ‘exit strategy’. This is the plan for how we will continue to deliver and develop services from early 2014. We’ve got very ambitious and exciting plans which we’re developing alongside colleagues in the Highland Sensory Project. We’ll keep you posted!

  1. Why is this role important?

The most important thing we do is promoting understanding about sensory loss. Did you know that most Deaf British Sign Language Users don’t regard themselves as disabled, but as members a cultural and linguistic minority, the UK Deaf Community? Did you know it’s perfectly fine to say “Nice to see you” to a blind person?

Training Highland’s BSL Interpreters is also very important to ensure BSL Users here can access services equitably.

Preventing hearing/sight loss is crucial too. Have you had your annual eye test? Tests are free and can detect eye problems early. Early treatment can often make the difference between losing or keeping your sight. And as for listening to banging music through headphones….turn it down and make sure your kids do too!

Many people also don’t seek help for sight/hearing loss. Some just see it as ‘part of getting older’ and some just don’t notice it because it can come on so slowly. But getting help early can vastly improve quality of life. So it’s important for NHS staff to be ‘on alert’ for sensory loss, know how to helpand when to ‘signpost’ people towards specialist sensory services.

  1. Most challenging part of my job?

I only had basic sign language skills when I started, so at first it was a bit of a challenge to manage culturally Deaf Tutors whose first language was British Sign Language, not English.

  1. Most interesting part of my job?

I love watching how learning helps people to develop and flourish. Film-making is also fun. As well as training films, we recently made an hour long documentary film about the Highland Deaf Community. You wouldn’t believe some of the life stories older Deaf people tell about what it’s been like to grow up Deaf in the Highlands over the last 80 years. Email me for a free copy – .

  1. What qualifications/personal qualities do I need?

Minimum of degree level qualification

Leadership skills (I’ll complete a post-grad MSc in Leadership this year)

British Sign Language - Advanced

Deaf Awareness

Positivity, resilience and a strong sense of humour too!

  1. Who do I get in touch with if I want to find out more?

Jenny Liddell at / Voice/text: 07765 898689 /

Fax: 01463 226937