Terms and Conditions
Parent Therapy Contract
Thank you for selecting Sligo Speech Therapy as your provider for speech therapy services. This contract identifies the expectations and duties of the speech-language therapist, client, and/or client’s parties for speech services to be provided. Our policies are here to support you and Sligo Speech Therapy work together.
Bookings
Booking can be made on-line, through the Sligo Speech Therapy.com website or via e-mail or phone. The booking will not be confirmed until we send you a confirmation e-mail and you have paid the set deposit. At the time of booking you will need to provide the name of the client, date of birth, a contact number, address and an e-mail address.
We usually e-mail your appointment confirmation with 24 hrs of booking. If you have not received your confirmation e-mail, please check your spam e-mail account and if it is not here, please contact us.
Initial assessments
All children new to the service, regardless of previous speech therapy assessments, will require an initial assessment to ensure best practice.
Initial assessments involve:
A Case History
A case History is an informal interview that the SLT will conduct with one or both parents. It is usually just a structured conversation on your child’s biographical, medical and developmental history, which can also include some discussion of the child’s current level of language use and other communication-related questions. The purpose of the Case History is to get a full picture of the child and their development and to help the SLT identify any factors that may have contributed to your child’s difficulties.
This meeting also gives us an opportunity to discuss your concerns, needs and goals in relation to your child and how these may be best supported within your family dynamic. Please use this time to ask questions and to become familiar with how your therapist will work with you.
An assessment
The way in which the assessment is carried out will depend on your child age and abilities. For younger children the assessment will be carried out though playing with different toys such as dolls, teddies, tea sets, blocks, etc.. The SLT may observe the child playing alone or with you or their sibling initially and then become more involved in the play themselves. For younger children in particular, a part of the assessment may involve a parental questionnaire, which is a structured interview involving questions about your child’s skills. SLTs recognise that parents hold a wealth of information on their children’s skills and these interviews give the SLT a good insight into your child’s level of ability. For older children (of school-age or above) the assessment is more formal and will usually be carried out using standardised assessments. These are typically in the form of pictures and/ or words, where the child will be asked to identify, name or remember instructions based on the information contained on the page. Standardised assessments are ones which are divided into different sections (or subtests) and must be carried out by the SLT in a particular way. The scores of these assessments allow the SLT to compare your child’s performance against other children of a similar age.
As we all know children can be shy or anxious when meeting somebody new and visiting a new place. In order to ensure we get a true assessment of your child’s abilities, there are times when the assessment may be split over two sessions rather than one longer one. Sometimes this may be divided between two clinic based sessions or one clinic based session and a visit to their educational placement.
Verbal Feedback
Once the assessment has been completed your SLT will give you some verbal feedback on the information that they have gathered. You will also be presented with an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the assessment and results with the SLT. TIP: It may be useful for you at this time to take some notes on what the SLT is saying as it can be a lot of information to process during a conversation. Taking notes will allow you to reflect on this information after you have left the appointment and also to keep this information for your records. Your SLT will discuss the plan for moving forward with you and what steps will need to be taken to best suit your child’s needs. The SLT will also discuss whether or not there is a need for a block of speech and language therapy as indicated by the results of the assessment. A follow up appointment will then be scheduled if necessary.
Relevant consent forms will be discussed, read and signed if appropriate
N.B. Initial consultation does not automatically result in further therapy sessions being recommended. All future therapy will be arranged by joint agreement with the speech and language therapist and the client or the client’s parent/carer and will be subject to regular review.
Written reports are available on request. They are sometimes required for/requested by educational placements, transfer to other SLT services etc. Please allow two weeks’ notice for written reports. Set fees apply.
Session outline
Our aim is for every child to have success in therapy. This requires the commitment of you, your child and the therapist.
Home practice will be recommended in most cases and it is necessary as part of the therapy success.
The speech therapy service will be provided based on goals identified following assessment and will be agreed on by the therapist and parents/carers.
Sessions are typically 45 minutes for children with speech/sound difficulties and 60 minutes for children with language or communication difficulties but can be subject to change. 10 minutes of this time is often non-direct time and is allocated for recording the session outcomes and planning the next session etc.
Where therapy is delivered via telepractice, session times may be shorter.
Speech therapy services are provided in the clinic, school premises or alternative arrangements.
Please ensure you arrive on time for your appointment. If you run late the session will conclude at the same time to allow for the clinician staying on schedule.
Absolutely no recording or photos of the session to be taken, especially without the knowledge and/or consent of the Speech and Language Therapist. Thank you!
Where therapy takes place in the clinic:
On arrival please wait in the waiting room provided. Please stay with your child until the clinician comes to get you.
In most cases parent/carers are involved in therapy sessions and will remain in the clinic room with their child.
In other cases where the child is being seen on a 1:1 basis, please wait in the building at all times.
Should your child need the toilet, you will be requested to facilitate this.
Please wait outside the clinic room door approx 5 minutes prior to the end of the session. This will allow time for you to come into the clinic room to discuss homework.
Where therapy takes place via telepractice:
You must have access to a laptop or an ipad, something with a larger screen that would maximise therapy outcomes.
You must have a Zoom account and be somewhat familiar with the features of Zoom (e.g. camera, microphone ON).
Have your child ready for therapy; find a nice, “quiet” spot in a room if possible.
A Parent Coaching therapy model is preferred for Early Intervention. Methods on how to model, cue, and prompt your child to facilitate language and communication development, reduce frustration and improve interactions will be discussed. Play and daily routines/activities will be considered.
The Speech and Language Therapist will wear headphones to ensure client confidentiality when working remotely.
Please allow time for technical issues and trouble-shooting problems including internet connection issues where necessary.
There is significant evidence that children who present with a wide range of speech and language difficulties make more progress when parents play a key role in their therapy. Therefore, as part of your child’s therapy programme, a 20 minute parent/clinician meeting will be held approximately after every 6-8 sessions (no child present). The purpose of these meetings are to allow the clinician and parent/carer discuss goals, therapy outcomes, specific strategies being used, and to discuss any issues, concerns or questions parents/carers may have. These meetings are designed support families in their essential role in their child’s speech and language progress. You can request a review meeting at any stage. Set fees apply.
Cancellations
If the clinician needs to cancel your session, we will notify you as soon as possible and we will make our best efforts to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Due to a high demand for timeslots, we kindly request that you notify the therapist as soon as possible if your child cannot attend the appointment.
If your child’s session is in school and your child is not attending, please let the clinician know as soon as possible.
All client cancellations require at least a 24 hour notice. For cancellations within 24 hours 50% of your fee will be charged. For cancellations within 12 hours or for those who do not attend on the day without giving notice, 100% of your fee will be charged. Cancellation fees are payable on your next booking.
Parents/Carers are free to withdraw from treatment at any time. The therapist may also withdraw treatment or discharge the client for any of the following reasons:
The client’s speech and language skills are within a normal range.
The client has achieved maximum potential at the current time.
All appropriate strategies are in place and advice has been given.
Therapy/intervention is not deemed appropriate by the therapist.
Due to non‐compliance e.g. frequently cancelled appointments or follow‐up activities not being carried out.
Fees
All fees are listed on Sligospeechtherapy.com
Bookings are not confirmed until the set deposit has been made in advance of sessions. Deposits are payable on-line via the link sent through the confirmation e-mail.
The remainder of the payment is expected at the time of service unless prior arrangements have been made.
If payment is not received, a reminder will be sent out. If payment is not made for three sessions, therapy will be discontinued until the account is paid in full.
Forms of payment accepted are electronically through the online booking system. However, cash, cheque or card facilities are available in clinic where required.
The client is solely responsible for submitting all claims to their insurance company, should one wish to receive reimbursement for any services rendered by Sligo Speech Therapy.
Sligo Speech Therapy will provide a receipt on payment of each session.
The rates of evaluations and/or therapy are subject to change.
Notification of Legal Policies
Sligo Speech Therapy will not be held responsible for any claims or damages of any kind, for injury to any person or persons, and/or for any damages due to loss of property arising directly or indirectly out of participation in these therapy sessions.
Sligo Speech Therapy has the right to cancel or amend this contract, or any part therein without negating the remainder of this contract. Clients will be notified in writing, of any changes or cancellations of this contract.
Privacy Impact Statement / Data Protection Statement – Sligo Speech therapy’s full privacy Impact statement is available on the website at time of booking. Please contact, Faye Godsell, Sligo Speech Therapy sligospeechtherapy@gmail.com should you wish for me to send you a copy of the full privacy policy directly.