Dimensions of interprofessional trust and distrust in interpreter-mediated social work: the social worker’s perspective

Abstract

This qualitative study, situated in the field of public service interpreting, explores the dimensions of interprofessional trust and distrust between social workers and spoken-language interpreters, specifically from the social worker’s perspective. Drawing on thirteen in-depth interviews conducted with social workers in Finland, the study investigates how trust in interpreters is constructed and maintained. Findings indicate that social workers’ trust in the interpreter is shaped by perceptions of interpreter training and competence, interpreter integrity, commitment to shared goals, and established patterns of collaboration. In contrast, distrust is often linked to (perceived) deficiencies in the interpreter’s linguistic competence, unethical behaviour or non-adherence to professional boundaries. Notably, social workers often begin with an abstract form of trust based on professional expectations, which may develop into personal trust through repeated, positive experiences.