Terms & Conditions

You can get in touch with me directly via either email or by telephone. It is helpful to gain as much background information about your child as possible at this stage so that I can determine the most appropriate next steps. This conversation would be free of charge and would normally take place via the telephone.

When the initial contact call has taken place, I may recommend that your child would benefit from an assessment of their speech, language and communication skills. The assessment is a collaborative process where the expertise from you, the parent/carer, and the therapist are pulled together to form a picture of your child’s abilities. As your child’s primary caregiver your contribution to this process and throughout your child’s entire therapy journey, is vital.

At this stage, a number of assessments may be carried out which will include parental information so that I can gain a full understanding of how your child communicates within different environments.

The assessment will include:

• A discussion surrounding your child’s development and your expectations of the assessment and therapy process, as appropriate.
• Informal assessment of your child’s abilities via play and/or conversation, as appropriate.
• Formal assessment via use of standardised and non-standardised assessments, where appropriate.
• Where relevant, and with your permission, it may be useful to video record part of the session with your child. This can be a vital tool in both assessment and therapy

There are two levels of assessment

Level 1 – Assessment – £95 (£150 if report is required)

This takes about an hour.

This level of assessment will include:

• Parent questionnaire and discussion.
• Informal assessment and formal assessment screening when appropriate.
• Verbal feedback and advice.
• Verbal recommendations for future action.
• A short written evaluation, (when needed).

It may be that I need more information following the above. Further sessions may be required with your consent, at an additional cost.

Level 2 – Detailed Assessment – £400

This may be recommended when your child appears to have a more complex profile of speech, language and/or communication needs. This assessment can last up to 2 hours and may take place over two sessions. Analysis of assessment information and write up will take around 2 hours. Further sessions at home, school or nursery, may be needed at an additional cost. The initial fee includes detailed analysis of formal assessments, language samples and observations carried out during the assessment session. I will discuss my findings with you. You will have a written evaluation of my findings including recommendations.

This level of assessment will include:

• Parent questionnaire and discussion.
• Informal assessment through play, conversation, observation and structured tasks, as appropriate.
• Standardised and non-standardised assessment procedures where appropriate.
• Liaison with other professionals involved in your child’s care.
• Analysis of assessment results.
• Report including evaluation and recommendations. A written programme can be devised for your child, where appropriate. This would be be charged separately. Any resources recommended to accompany therapy sessions would be charged for separately. Assessments and reports for Tribunals are costed separately.

In certain circumstances (e.g. complex cases) detailed assessments may last longer, or further assessment sessions may be recommended (e.g. a school or nursery visit). Additional hours spent are charged and will always be discussed, and agreed, with the parent/carer in advance.

Where required, an agreed number of therapy sessions will commence following discussion of the recommendations with parents/carers. A standard therapy session lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour. This will include time spent with parents/carers, teachers or nursery staff.

The fee also includes time spent outside the session in:

• Session planning.
• Liaising with parents and professionals.
• Record keeping.

It is often recommended that, as part of your child’s care, I may need to provide some services in addition to the direct therapy sessions themselves.

This may include:

• Written therapy programmes.
• Training sessions for teaching/nursery staff.
• Face to face meetings.
• Onward referral letters.
• Reports.
• Provision of specific resources.

Any items such as these will be charged for separately but will be arranged with you in advance.

It is often difficult to indicate the exact number of therapy sessions that will be needed. It is my 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 agreed period.

If it is recommended that your child may benefit from regular therapy, parents are offered discounted therapy fees when there is a commitment to a minimum of six sessions. These sessions must be booked on either a weekly or fortnightly basis. Parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must inform me prior to the onset of regular sessions.

Parents are free to withdraw their child from therapy at any time. Equally, if I feel that therapy, at any point, is not being effective then I will discuss this with you and may recommend that therapy ceases at that time.

This will be charged at £70 for the first hour (or part hour), plus travel (see below). An hour is usually sufficient time but if the session takes considerably longer then an additional pro rata charge may be incurred.

Such visits are only made with parental agreement. These will be charged at £70 for the first hour (or part hour) plus travel. An hour is usually sufficient time, but if the session takes considerably longer an additional pro rata charge may be incurred as above. Therapy can be undertaken in school or at home on a regular basis. Where home/school activities are provided, it is the responsibility of the parents/carers to ensure that the therapy materials are sent back on the appropriate day, and for informing us if their child will be absent from school.

Parents/carers are encouraged to come to school-based sessions by arrangement with school. They can also telephone me to discuss progress and/or any concerns or queries they may have. I am often working with clients during the day, but any messages left will be responded to as soon as possible.

Travel is charged at 45p per mile. Round trip distances over 20 miles for domiciliary, school and other visits away from my home address may incur an additional time charge pro rata based on the hourly rate.

I reserve the right to update the above Terms and Conditions at any time. If material changes to the Terms takes place, I will notify parents/carers of children currently on caseload via the email address specified in the details you provide to me. It is the parent/ carers responsibility to inform me of any changes to personal details, inclusive of home address, contact telephone numbers and email addresses, so that I am able to provide you with current and updated information. I cannot be held responsible for any issues surrounding communication with you if I do not hold up to date information re the above. Modifications to the Terms and Conditions will be effective from the day they are emailed out to parents/carers, unless stated otherwise. You will be given 30 days notice to any changes to Terms and Conditions which directly affect the rates for my services. Your continued use of my service after changes to Terms and Conditions become effective, and have been communicated to you via the email or postal address you have provided, means that you accept these changes.

You will be invoiced on or around the 20th of each month. Invoices are usually sent via email but can be sent via post if you prefer. Reports should be paid for on receipt of the report and invoice. Payment is expected within 7 working days of the date of invoice, (for individual clients) and according to the payment terms of the school/local council, (for schools). Payments can be made via online banking or cheque. I prefer not to take cash payments unless specifically arranged in advance regarding collection. I do not have card payment facilities. If your payment method fails or your account is post due, use of alternative collection mechanisms may be considered. This may include charging other payment methods on file with me and/or retaining collection agencies legal counsel. If payment is missed, therapy will be suspended immediately. Parents/carers using private health insurance are responsible for settling the invoice and claiming from the insurer concerned. It is advisable to check the level and nature of your cover with the insurer before agreeing to therapy. If you have any difficulties in meeting the cost of therapy, please talk to me about this as soon as the issue arises.

A minimum of 24 hours notice of cancellation of appointments is required. Please contact me, preferably by phone, in order to cancel sessions. Frequent missed appointments or late cancellations are likely to interfere with the effectiveness of therapy and quality of care. Should this occur, I may need to discuss alternative solutions or postpone the planned schedule of intervention.

If you fail to attend, cancel or seek to reschedule an appointment with less than 24 hours notice :
You will be liable to pay half the session fee and, If you have already paid part or all of the fee I cannot offer a refund for such an appointment, except at my discretion in exceptional circumstances. If I need to cancel an appointment, the maximum possible notice will be given and the appointment will be rescheduled at the next possible convenient time. I will refund any fees you’ve paid in advance. I cannot be liable for any other expenses you’ve incurred in connection with the appointment.

It is important for your child’s care that liaison with other professionals involved with his/ her learning and development is carried out. All reports will be sent to the parents or carers who have initiated the assessment for them to distribute. I will seek permission to keep informed other professionals involved in your child’s care and development.

As Speech and Language Therapists, our professional standards require good liaison and it is good practice, where both an independent and an NHS therapist are involved, for them to work together collaboratively to maximise opportunities for effective therapy to take place. This is also true where there are other professionals involved as well. I am always happy to discuss this policy and any related concerns with parents.

All clients are eligible for referral to speech and language therapy within their local NHS trust. It is the responsibility of the client to inform the independent therapist if they are receiving, or on a waiting list for NHS therapy, and to inform the NHS therapist of any independent therapist involvement.

I strive to deliver high quality care. All information supplied by myself is evidence based, but no warranties, express or implied, are made. I am not responsible for the validity or accuracy of any material or ideas presented by other individuals, groups or companies. Therapy, programmes and advice provided by myself, are designed to inform, and/or to facilitate in improving aspects of communication. Unfortunately, some communication
difficulties, diseases or disorders do not respond well to treatment and recovery can be slow or not happen at all. In some instances, communication can deteriorate further over time. The programmes, activities, ideas and information may not lead to a cure or a guarantee that the communication difficulty will improve. I cannot be held responsible for therapy and/or programmes being carried out incorrectly by other people.

By using my service you agree that I may communicate with you electronically regarding security, privacy, and administrative issues relating to your use of the services or these terms. If I learn of a security system’s breach, I may attempt to notify you electronically by emailing you. To receive free written notice of a security breach (or to withdraw your consent from receiving electronic notice), please write to me at hello@SpeechWorksServices.co.uk

Notice will be deemed given twenty-four hours after e-mail is sent, unless the sending party is notified that the e-mail address is invalid. Alternatively, I may give you legal notice by mail to a postal address, if provided by you through your use any of the services. In such case, notice will be deemed given three days after the date of mailing.

It is within the therapist’s rights to terminate therapy or intervention with 24 hours notice. It is within the rights of the client to terminate therapy or intervention with 24 hours notice. This does not apply to school contracts. Term and termination of therapy for school contracts will be agreed in liaison with the school and drawn up in the contract prior to start of service.

I aim to provide the best quality care. If you believe that you have not been provided a service delivered with an appropriate level of care and skill, then please contact me to discuss at the earliest opportunity. I am registered to practice with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This means that I conform to professional clinical standards as determined by the HCPC. A copy of the standards is available to download
from HCPC website.

Please discuss any complaints or concerns that you may have with me, in the first instance. If I am unable to resolve the difficulty, then please write to:
The Chair,
Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice. c/o
WSS Coleheath
Bottom Speen
Princes Risborough HP27 0SZ

You may also contact the Health and Care Professions Council at Park
House, 184 Kennington Park Road
London, SE11 4BU
Phone: 020 7840 9814
Fax: 020 7582 4874 Email: ftp@hpc-uk.org
Regards,

Laura Newton, BSc (Hons), regHCPC, certRCSLT, MASLTIP
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Membership no:
RC0012499 HCPC number: SL08267

MEMBERSHIP NO: 2941

MEMBERSHIP NO: RC0012499

MEMBERSHIP NO: SL08267