CLIENT AGREEMENT
Client Records and Confidentiality
Anything you tell us is confidential within the Mind in Bexley team. Relevant information about your care will be shared between your allocated therapist/PWP, and your employment advisor, if you are accessing our employment services. If we have concerns about the safety of you or someone else, we may need to inform other agencies, and we will inform you if appropriate.
Digital records are maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
Please refer to the Mind in Bexley and East Kent Confidentiality Statement and Privacy Policy for further information.
Reasonable appointments
The service offers most appointments between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. We have a small number of evening appointments, but they usually involve a longer waiting time. You are asked where possible to attend the same appointment time each week.
If you reach the top of our treatment waiting list and are unable to accept an appointment within 6 weeks then you may be asked to re-refer once you can engage in regular treatment sessions. We will prioritise you on our waiting list if you contact us within 6 months of discharge.
If you decline appointments offered on more than 2 occasions you may be discharged from the service.
Attendance at sessions and non-attendance Policy
For therapy to be consistent and effective research suggests it is important to attend regularly. Please give us at least 24 hours’ notice if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment.
Cancelling with less than 24 hours’ notice will be treated as a missed appointment. 2 missed appointments may result in you being discharged from the service.
Please attend on time. Sessions will not be extended if you arrive late and you may not be seen if you arrive more than 15 minutes after your scheduled appointment time.
If you fail to attend your first treatment/therapy appointment and haven’t called to cancel or re-arrange you will be discharged from the service.
We are unable to offer sessions outside of the UK. When you start therapy please inform us of any planned absences. Extended breaks extending longer than 6 weeks may result in a discontinuation of therapy.
You are welcome to re-refer if you wish to engage in the future.
Employment Support
If you are engaging with our employment support service, please refer to their client agreement.
Clients receiving talking therapy from other services or privately
Receiving multiple forms of therapy is unlikely to be beneficial. You may engage in other talking therapy whilst on our waiting list however this needs to be completed before attending any sessions with us. Your case will be reviewed to assess next steps. If on completing therapy elsewhere you no longer require support, please email talkingtherapies@mindinbexley.org.uk.
Clients re-referring recently after being discharged
We encourage clients to put in to practice what they have learnt before re-referring to us. If you are re- referring for a similar problem within 6 months of discharge, you will be offered a review appointment in the first instance to discuss suitability and agree next steps.
Abuse towards staff or other service users
We understand at times that therapy can bring up difficult emotions however, abuse in any form directed towards staff or other service users will not be tolerated. Treatment may end if your behaviour is deemed inappropriate.
Complaints Procedure
We encourage clients to provide both positive and negative feedback. Our complaints procedure is available on our website and making a complaint will not affect the service you receive.
In-session guidance
– If your session is conducted via telephone or video, you will access sessions from a place where you cannot be overheard and can speak freely with your therapist
– You agree to complete our standard questionnaires at every session
– You will not attend under the influence of drugs or alcohol
– You agree to engage in the therapeutic process, including any between session tasks
– Recording and photography is not permitted unless agreed with your therapist
– Unless beneficial to therapy, we do not allow others to attend 1-1 sessions with you
If you are a group participant, please see our ‘Psycho-educational group frequently asked questions’ or ‘Therapy group frequently asked questions’ pages for more information.
If you are receiving one to one therapy remotely, please see our ‘Preparing for you telephone or video appointment’ guidelines.
Consent to the Recording of Sessions
Some sessions may be recorded for training, research and development purposes. Verbal consent will be obtained prior to the start of the session and will only take place with your permission. I consent to the recording of sessions:
