Free classes are available to Falkirk Council colleagues who may communicate with people who use BSL.

Falkirk’s Sensory Services team is offering free courses in British Sign Language (BSL) for all Falkirk Council staff.

Learning BSL can provide benefits for everyone – promoting inclusivity and fostering better communication between services, support options, and people within the deaf community. By gaining new communication skills in your team, you can ensure everyone in Falkirk has equal access to information and services.

The next available course begins on 5^th September, with registration required before 4^th August 2023 via CPD manager.

About the course

The course is offered by Falkirk Council’s Sensory Services over an 8-week period. A series of full day sessions (9:30am – 4pm) are delivered by a tutor who is fluent in BSL and part of the deaf community.

Sessions are held at the Forth Valley Sensory Centre in Camelon. You will also be required to commit to learning outside of classroom hours.

Upon successful completion of the course and final assessment, candidates will be awarded an SQL Level 4 qualification in British Sign Language, equipping you with the skills to communicate and understand simple messages in BSL.

Who can take this course?

Training is available to anyone in Falkirk Council who may need to communicate with people who use British Sign Language – which could be any BSL user in Falkirk looking to access your service, advice, or support. The course is suitable for those with minimal or no previous experience in BSL.

How to sign up

The course is delivered free of charge, running multiple times a year. The next course begins on 5^th September 2023, with sign up closing one month prior on 4^th August.

Course bookings can be made via CPD Manager or by emailing socialservices.training@falkirk.gov.uk. Candidates should have approval from their line manager prior to apply for the course.