Why BSL alone doesn’t make you a CSW

British Sign Language (BSL) is beautiful. Powerful. Essential.

But when it comes to working as a Communication Support Worker (CSW), it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

Every day, CSWs are asked to navigate late arrivals, inaccessible lessons, tutor misunderstandings, group presentations, and more, and do it all professionally.

If you're only relying on your BSL qualification, you're setting yourself up for burnout, confusion, and missed opportunities.

What you really need is:

• A solid understanding of your role

• The ability to set boundaries professionally

• Confidence to handle last-minute changes

• Tools to support student independence

• And ethical frameworks to guide your decisions

You won’t find all that on YouTube or in Facebook groups.

That’s why we built our online Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, to fill the gap between passion and profession.

Explore the course that fits your journey: https://deafumbrella.mykajabi.com/

This is your summer to prepare. September will thank you.