The CSW’s biggest Q's about their role and responsibilities

If you’re a Communication Support Worker (CSW), you’ve probably asked yourself more than once: “Am I actually doing this right?”
You’re not alone.

Every year, we hear from passionate, skilled professionals, people who want to give their Deaf students the very best, yet feel unsure about where their responsibilities start and end.

You tell us the same things in your course feedback:
💬 “I just want to be confident in my role.”
💬 “I wish someone had explained what to do in tricky situations.”
💬 “I know BSL, but I’m not sure how to apply it professionally.”

The truth is, most CSWs are thrown into classrooms without clear training or structured guidance. You learn by doing, which can feel empowering… until something unexpected happens.
Let’s go through the biggest questions CSWs ask, and shed some light on what professional practice really looks like.

Q1. What exactly is my role as a CSW?

A: Your role is to facilitate communication — not to teach, supervise, or counsel. You’re there to bridge the gap between the Deaf student and everyone else in the learning environment.
That means enabling full access to spoken information, supporting interaction, and empowering your student to learn independently.

Your success isn’t measured by how much you say or do, but by how effectively you support access without taking over the learning process.

Q2. Where does my job end and the tutor’s job begin?

A: Boundaries are everything. The tutor teaches. The CSW ensures communication access.
You’re not responsible for lesson content, grading, or discipline. If you start doing a tutor’s job, it not only confuses your student’s expectations but also blurs accountability.

Respecting these lines builds mutual trust and professionalism, and ensures your role remains recognised and valued.

Q3. Am I allowed to explain something to a Deaf student if the teacher wasn’t clear?

A: Here’s where nuance matters. You can clarify language, not content.
If a tutor says, “We’re analysing the symbolism in poetry,” and your student asks, “What does symbolism mean?”, you can explain vocabulary.
But if they ask, “What symbols should I write about?”, that’s teaching, and that’s the tutor’s domain.

When in doubt, refer back to the teacher for clarification. That’s what collaboration looks like.

Q4. Should I intervene when a Deaf student is struggling, or just interpret?

A: Your instinct to help is a good one, but professionalism means supporting without rescuing.
If your student is struggling to participate because of access, you step in to facilitate communication.
If they’re struggling academically, that’s the teacher’s responsibility.

By focusing on access rather than answers, you empower your student to succeed on their own terms.

Q5. Can I take notes, interpret and support all at once, or should these be separate roles?

A: In theory, yes, but in practice, no one can do all three effectively at once.
Each task demands full concentration. Interpreting requires mental agility; notetaking demands structure and clarity.
If you’re expected to do both simultaneously, raise it with your coordinator. A Deaf student deserves both accurate interpretation and high-quality notes, not a compromise of the two.

Q6. Am I allowed to help with assignments outside of class time?

A: Helping to explain instructions or clarify terminology is fine.
Editing, rewriting, or “fixing” their work is not.
Your goal is to encourage independence, not create dependency.
It’s better to guide your student towards resources, study skills, or their tutor: that’s real support.

💡 The truth is...

None of this is obvious when you start out, and that’s why so many CSWs end up learning by trial and error.
But you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Our CPD-accredited online courses are designed for exactly these questions:

• Becoming a Professional CSW – Understand your role, responsibilities, and boundaries.

• How to Handle Nerves and Build Confidence – Manage self-doubt and communicate assertively.

• How to Notetake for CSWs – Learn the structure and ethics of effective classroom notes.

• How to: Self-Employment for R/TSLIs – Build a sustainable, confident freelance career.

Each one is flexible, self-paced, and built by professionals with decades of experience in Deaf education.

You’ve already got the heart for this job. Now give yourself the clarity, confidence, and skill to match.
👉 Explore the courses here: https://deafumbrella.mykajabi.com/