Terms of Business

 Purpose

Terms and conditions set out the expectations for both the client and the therapist. They make sure that both parties are protected if any disagreements occur. If you have any queries about these terms and conditions, please discuss them with Julie Llewellyn before agreeing to them.

Please sign and return a copy of this agreement prior to the commencement of services.

Altrincham Speech Therapy

Altrincham Speech Therapy operates as a sole trader and the therapist and owner is Julie Llewellyn.

Julie is a qualified Speech & Language Therapist, and is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Association of Speech & Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP). She is fully registered as a Speech & Language Therapist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Altrincham Speech Therapy is an independent speech therapy practice, specialising in speech sound & articulation difficulties, early language delay, eating & swallowing difficulties, acquired communication difficulties, specific language impairment, ASD, autism & social interaction difficulties. This list in not exhaustive. If Julie feels she does not have the appropriate skills to help you or your child, she will discuss this with you and, where appropriate and possible, assist with onwards referral to other agencies, organisations or professionals.

Fees & Payments

Fees are charged in accordance with the pricelist detailed on the Altrincham Speech Therapy website: www.altrinchamspeechtherapy.com/services&fees. Please note that no VAT is charged or is chargeable. Prices reflect the level of experience and specialism of the therapist.

Fee structures will be reviewed annually and existing clients will be given 8 weeks’ notice of any revision to the fees.

Clients are requested to settle their accounts within 2 weeks of the invoice date. Payment can be made via bank transfer, cheque (payable to Julie Llewellyn) or in cash.

Failure to settle invoices within the timescales detailed above will result in the following process: The bill-payer will be contacted with a friendly telephone call to remind him/her that payment is due. If payment is not received within 7 days of the date of this phone call, a letter will be sent to the bill-payer reminding him/her that payment is due, and specifying that a solicitor will be involved if payment is not received within 7 days of the date of the letter. Therapy will be stopped as of the date of this letter. If payment is not received within 7 days of the date of the warning letter, then the non-payment will be referred to a solicitor.

Clients who are using health insurance to cover the cost of fees are required to settle their invoices directly with Altrincham Speech Therapy and then claim the costs back from their health insurer. It is recommended that clients contact their insurance company prior to booking any services with Altrincham Speech Therapy to clarify the nature and level of their cover and whether or not they will be able to claim back the fees.

Cancellations & non-attendance

Clients are kindly requested to inform Julie (by email, phone or text message) as soon as possible if they are unable to attend a scheduled session. Scheduled sessions cancelled by the client with less than 2 hours’ notice will incur a 50% charge.

Non-attendance without notice will be charged at the full rate. Non-attendance includes the client not being at the agreed location for outreach visits (e.g. home or school visits). In such cases, the client will also be charged for any associated travel costs incurred by the therapist (see “Travel costs” on the website).

Should the therapist have to cancel a scheduled session, the client will be notified as soon as possible and no charge will be made. An alternative appointment will be scheduled when possible.

Confidentiality and data protection

All client details, case notes and correspondence will be processed, stored securely and treated confidentially according to the requirements of the Data Protection Act and GDPR. Julie Llewellyn is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO ref: ZA559648).

Julie Llewellyn holds an enhanced DBS, updated annually. (DBS cert no. 001680273262).

To facilitate assessment and therapy, liaison with other professionals and the sharing of relevant information is sometimes necessary (for example with GPs, NHS speech therapists, school staff). Such sharing of information will be discussed with the client in advance.

Where Altrincham Speech Therapy is providing written reports or documentation at the client’s request, these will be encrypted and shared directly with the client. Further distribution of such documents is at the discretion of the client.

Video and audio recordings

Video and audio recordings or photographs may sometimes be used as part of assessment and/or therapy. Whether used during a single session or as part of a continual assessment such video, audio recordings or photographs are securely stored and deleted as soon as this purpose is served.

Complaints procedure

If a client is dissatisfied with any aspect of the service provided by Altrincham Speech Therapy, please speak to Julie in the first instance. In the unlikely event that this does not resolve the situation, please put your concerns in writing and indicate what action you would like to be taken. If a client has concerns regarding the therapist’s fitness to practice, such concerns can be raised with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC): https://www.hcpc-uk.org/.

DECLARATION

I have read, understand and accept the Terms & Conditions laid out above.

I consent to use of video and audio recordings within assessment and/or therapy.

I give my consent for the therapist to liaise with other relevant professionals as appropriate.

Signature _________________________________________

Name ____________________________________________

Date ______________________________________________