Registered Independent Speech and Language Therapist: Joanna Jackson
Email: thespeechhive@outlook.com
Telephone number: 07938592221
Website: www.thespeechhive.com
Terms and conditions set out the expectations for the service user and the allocated therapist. They govern the contract between us and ensure that both parties are protected in the unlikely event that a disagreement occurs. Please read my terms and conditions and contact me if you have any questions. Please sign both copies, returning one to me before our first appointment. Thank you.
FREE CONSULTATION
We provide a free 15 minute consultation (if any further consultation is required this will be charged at the hourly rate). The purpose of the consultation is to discuss your specific needs and goals and describe the services available. The consultation is available via email or telephone. Following this consultation, you will be advised if an assessment is appropriate, and if/when a therapist is available to you and which therapist would best meet your needs.
ASSESSMENT
If indicated, a screening assessment will be conducted. This typically lasts 1 - 2 hours. This may include observation and discussion alongside formal and informal assessments. A screening assessment is charged at the hourly rate below. A separate report can be provided on request. Reports will also be charged at the hourly rate below.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
In certain circumstances (e.g. complex cases) detailed assessments may last longer, or further assessment sessions may be recommended (e.g. day centre visit, observation within a different environment). Additional time spent will be charged at the standard rate.
STANDARD CONSULTATION OR THERAPY SESSION
Charges are set dependent on the length of the session and the tariffs are outlined below. If sessions fall outside of typical working hours there may be an additional cost which will be agreed in advance.
The fees include:
• Time spent directly with the individual
• Substantial planning of sessions and resource preparation
• Liaison with parents, relatives, carers and other professionals
• Visits to other environments e.g. day centres & attendance at multi-disciplinary meetings (only made with prior agreement)
A standard session typically lasts between ½ - 1 hour depending on the needs of the individual.
It is often difficult to estimate the exact number of sessions of therapy that will be necessary. It is usual practice to offer a pre-agreed number of treatment sessions, with an opportunity to review management options with you at the end of the period. Therapy sessions can be stopped at any time by the individual, relatives or carers. Equally, if it is felt that therapy is at any time not being effective this will be discussed with you and it may be recommended that we change the input or stop.
LETTERS, REPORTS & TREATMENT PROGRAMMES
Written documents are charged for the total time taken to prepare them and based on the standard session rate. Individuals are responsible for distributing written documents where this is required.
OTHER SERVICES
Talks, workshops and training sessions are available and these can be geared to specific areas of interest. Costs will be discussed on an individual basis.
TRAVEL
As per government guidance, our mileage rates are: 45p per mile from our home addresses for the first 10,000 business miles and then 25p thereafter. Travel time may be charged at 50% of our hourly rate at our discretion.
LIAISON
Liaison with all professionals involved in the individual’s care is good practice. I strongly recommend to families / carers / individuals that they keep everyone involved in the care provided and development informed. All reports will be sent to the individual, relatives or carers who have initiated the assessment for them to distribute. Liaison with other professionals including NHS SLT’s is encouraged and supported.
CANCELLATIONS
Please give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice of cancellation of appointments wherever possible. Failed appointments may be charged at the rate for standard sessions. The Speech Hive aims to keep all appointments but no liability can be accepted for inconvenience / expense if unforeseen circumstances which mean arrangements have to be cancelled or charged.
FEES
Please discuss fees with your therapist.
Please note that fees may be subject to change, however this will be discussed in advance of your booking. Existing clients will be given at least 8 weeks notice of any changes in fees.
PAYMENT
A £50 deposit must be paid at the time of booking your first appointment. The remainder of the fee for your first appointment will be invoiced on completion of the assessment.
Therapy sessions must be paid for in full prior to the session taking place, unless otherwise agreed. Invoices for therapy will be presented prior to the session at a prearranged date agreed with individuals. Blocks of therapy must also be paid in full upfront.
Invoices for admin post assessment/therapy will be provided once a month at a prearranged date. If invoices are required more frequently, this can also be arranged.
Our preferred payment method is via bank transfer (bank details will be provided to you).
Cash and cheques are also accepted.
In the event of non-payment, we will contact you to remind you that payment is overdue and an administration fee of £5 may be incurred for late payments. If payment is not received within full within 7 days of a reminder, you will receive written notice that therapy is suspended pending payment in full. If payment if not received within 7 days of therapy being suspended, we reserve the right to refer the matter to a solicitor and to commence legal action.
DATA PROTECTION
This statement sets out The Speech Hive's policy in relation to the holding and using of information about you (or your family member) which may be obtained from you or other sources during your (or your family member’s) treatment. This information may include personal details, details relating to your family lifestyle and social circumstances, education and training details. This data may be shared with yourself, your relatives, and other healthcare or education professionals with your permission.
We collect certain data from you to meet mandatory requirements regarding medical notes. There is a legal requirement to keep medical notes for a period of time after treatment. This can vary in length depending on your age and ability to consent but will be for a minimum of 7 years. For children, all records will be kept securely until your child is 25 years old. After this time, all records will be destroyed.
We also collect data to assist in the administration of our businesses to provide you with an effective service. We would like to use your contact details to assist with the administration of your appointments/changes to scheduled appointments and/or reminders about appointments. To further enhance our service to you, we would like to be able to update you on any information regarding the practice. We take your privacy seriously and will take all reasonable steps to ensure the protection if your data.
Please note that your right to be forgotten cannot override the legal requirements to keep medical notes for the mandatory periods. You can request a copy of any data held about you or your family member or request modifications of any inaccuracies by submitting an Access Request in writing. These requests will be dealt with within 30 days. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further information.
This information is stored securely and treated confidentially according to General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 1998. Information is stored on a secure electronic system. Reports and programmes are password protected.
Any paper based confidential information is stored securely in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations and the data Protection Act 1998.
Joanna Jackaon is registered as Data Controller with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
SAFEGUARDING
Joanna Jackson has a DBS which is checked every 3 years. Service users may see the DBS enhanced disclosure at any time. In the event of a safeguarding concern, where yourself or another person is at risk of harm, we have a legal obligation to share that information with relevant professionals in line with the Safeguarding Children’s Act 2004 and the Care Act 2014.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Email is not 100% secure method of communication. With your consent, it will be used for correspondence and to send letters, reports and other documents. Documents will be password protected and saved in Printed Document Format (PDF). Correspondence via email to other professionals will be copied to you as necessary. We will refer to you or your family member using your initials only in emails.
COMPLAINTS
In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with our service please contact us. We will make every attempt to resolve this through discussion. If it is not possible for us to resolve matters, and you wish to complain formally, please contact the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice at www.helpwithtalking.com.
PPE
We follow Public Health England (PHE) and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) guidance on PPE. If you have any concerns regarding the use of PPE, please do ask.
DECLARATION
Before an initial consultation, professionals, individuals, relatives or carers are asked to sign and return a declaration indicating that they have read, understood and agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy. Please see declaration below and state whether this is being completed by the client or someone else.