Terms & Conditions of Service

Definitions

1. “THE COMPANY” MEANS SERENDIPITY PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED, ALSO KNOWN AS SERENDIPITY.
2. “APPOINTER” MEANS THE PERSON OR COMPANY (WHERE APPLICABLE) WHO INSTRUCTS THE COMPANY AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF FEES.
3. “CLIENT” MEANS THE PERSON RECEIVING THE SERVICES. A SELF-FUNDING CLIENT WILL ALSO BE THE “APPOINTER”, UNLESS THE CLIENT IS UNDER 18 YEARS, IN WHICH CASE THE CHILD’S LEGAL GUARDIAN IS THE APPOINTER.
4. “CLINICIAN” MEANS THE  PERSON APPOINTED BY THE COMPANY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE CLIENT AND MAY BE AN EMPLOYEE OR ASSOCIATE CLINICIAN OF THE COMPANY. THE “CLINICIAN” IS A SUITABLY QUALIFIED AND REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL (OR AN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A QUALIFIED AND REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL) WHO IS COMPETENT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
5. “ASSOCIATE CLINICIAN” MEANS A SELF-EMPLOYED CLINICIAN WHO HAS ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
6. “SERVICES” MEANS: PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION, PSYCHOTHERAPIES, COUNSELLING, CONSULTATION WITH THIRD PARTIES (AS AGREED BY THE CLIENT/APPOINTER), CLINICAL SUPERVISION OR OTHER COACHING OR MENTORING ARRANGEMENT, ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS, WRITING REPORTS AND LETTERS AND DEALING WITH QUERIES RAISED BY THE CLIENT/APPOINTER.
7. “FEES” MEANS THE SUM QUOTED OR PAYABLE AS THE CONSIDERATION FOR THE PROVISIONS OF SERVICES.

Our values and commitments:

We base these terms and agreements on our company values which have been formed as a group of therapists. Our values are based on our training and experience as therapeutic practitioners, practices of which are underpinned by a substantial body of research and evidence. We ask all our therapists to make a number of commitments to their clients and through inviting our clients to sign this agreement, we also make a number of commitments to our clients:

• To do all we practicably can to support our clients to remain in therapy for as long as they may
  need to engage with it and to review progress with our clients regularly.
• To follow standard ethical guidelines and professional codes of conduct.
• To respect the integrity and rights of the client.
• To seek consultation as required to ensure the client receives the best possible therapeutic approach for them.

Fees

Fees are agreed between the Company and the Appointer at the start of therapy.

Standard company fees are reviewed at each financial year end and are subject to a 5 percent
increase.

Where Clients/Appointers intend to claim the cost of services from third parties e.g.from healthcare insurers or the Local Authority, it is the responsibility of the Appointer to seek a formal agreement with the funding party prior to the commencement of Services. In the absence of an agreement, the Appointer will be solely responsible for payment of the fees. Where the third party do not make payment of the fee, it is the responsibility of the Client to meet the fee and pursue the third party independently to claim this back.

Payment

Appointers are asked to make payment for The Client’s first appointment in advance of the initial consultation unless they have an established contract regarding payment with The Company in advance.

Thereafter, invoices will be submitted by email monthly in arrears. We ask that payment is made promptly and within 7 days to the account details provided on the invoice which are as follows:

Serendipity Psychology Services Ltd
Sort Code 20 57 44
Account Number 33947769

Where arrangements for third party Appointers to meet the fee, such as insurance companies, have been made The Company will submit invoices to Appointers monthly in arrears. Cleared payment is due to be made within 14 days of the date of the invoice. The Company reserves the right to charge interest on any overdue payment at the rate of 8% per month.

Any queries relating to invoicing should be directed to Karen Walton, Practice Manager:
karen@serendipitypsychology.co.uk

Cancellations and missed appointments

It is assumed that all planned, regular/diarised appointments are chargeable. If The Client is unable to attend their regular/diarised appointment, they are asked to telephone or text their Clinician to let them know as soon as possible. If The Client fails to attend an appointment without having agreed this with The Clinician a minimum of 72 hours in advance, The Appointer will be charged the full fee for the appointment. The individual Clinician may use their discretion at times of illness or emergency and will notify the company if a session should not be charged. In the event of annual leave or similar planned absence, The Client is asked to give their therapist one month’s notice of their planned absence, or the session will be chargeable.

Please note that due to the significant demand for specialist private psychology services and subsequent Clinician waiting lists, a Client agrees with a ‘three-miss rule’. Where three sessions are missed or cancelled consecutively, or the Client misses several sessions through butterflying (i.e. one session missed, one attended, one missed), The Clinician reserves the right to terminate the contract. This is at the Clinician’s discretion. Regularity of appointments must be agreed as of the initial consultation and maintained until any subsequent formal review between Clinician and Client.

The contracted number of sessions will be charged where there is an expectation by third parties to reserve a regular session for a client who may not attend regular appointments, for example, in Local Authority commissioning arrangements.

Notice of termination

Ethical clinical practice indicates that it is important for individuals to be given the opportunity to work towards a planned ending with a therapist when engaging in psychological therapy. With this in mind, we request that The Appointer must give one calendar months’ notice before withdrawing payment for the course of sessions, ending the sessions sooner than this is at the therapist and companies’ discretion. We ask our therapists to give three months’ notice to their clients wherever possible.

Late arrival to appointments

In the event that a Client arrives late for an appointment, the Clinician will nevertheless end the session at the usual time and the full fee will be charged. If a Client arrives more than 30 minutes late for an appointment, the Clinician may, in his or her absolute discretion, cancel the appointment and the Appointer will be charged the full fee for the appointment.

Complaints

If it is not possible to address complaints directly with the individual Clinician, please notify the Director of The Company (Dr Lauren Sayers) regarding any complaints about the provision of services. She may be contacted at: serendipitypsychology@outlook.com.

The Company will advise on the appropriate course of action to address any issue regarding the professional practice of an individual Clinician. The Company is not liable for the professional practice and conduct of Associate Clinicians.

If the complaint is made regarding the Company Director, it will be passed to an Associate or supervisor within the company to investigate and respond to in the first instance.

Confidentiality

Information held about the Client by the Clinician will not be disclosed to any third party other than employees of The Company. This does not apply to:

1. Any use or disclosure of information which is authorised by the Client (i.e. progress reports to Appointer or letters to the Client’s General Practitioner)
2. Disclosure required by law.
3. Any information that is already in, or comes into, the public domain.
4. When sharing information is necessary to ensure the safety of any person/s.
5. When a Clinician is required to discuss their clinical practice with a clinical supervisor who is not an employee of The Company.
6. When an executor is required to manage the professional affairs of the Clinicians in the event of illness or death.

Efficacy of treatment and liability

The Company takes care to ensure that the Services are of consistently high standard and are provided by appropriately qualified professionals and in accordance with good clinical practice. The Company provides interventions and therapies that are acknowledged within the Psychology profession as good practice.

Clients are asked to note, however, that the Company is not in a position to guarantee the effectiveness of these Services, particularly those Services that are embarked on in the hope that they will improve a specific problem or condition. Neither can the Company be held liable for any consequences of a therapy, supervision or consultation, treatment or intervention that fails to produce a desired effect. The Company will not provide refunds of fees in such circumstances.

Handling of personal information

Please refer to the company’s Privacy Statement for further information about General Data Protection Regulations. This can be found on the company’s website at: www.serendipitypsychology.co.uk.

Please complete and return by email:
These terms and conditions apply by implication if The Appointer/Client commits to diarising a therapy session by making payment for it, and/or through their attendance at the session.

I agree to the above terms and conditions (completion and return by email indicates a signature).

Appointer’s Name:

 

Client’s Name (if different):

 

Appointer’s Signature:

 

Date:

 

Please select as appropriate
☐ I am the Appointer AND the Client
☐ I am the Appointer of the Client whose name is: ________________________________
(Client name)

Modern Slavery Prevention Statement

1. Our Definition of Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is a term used to describe various forms of exploitation where individuals are forced to work against their will under the threat of violence, coercion, or deception. It encompasses a range of exploitative practices that severely restrict a person’s freedom and violate their human rights. Modern slavery is not restricted to any one region, industry, or group of people; it can affect men, women, and children around the world.

Key Forms of Modern Slavery:

• Human Trafficking: The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons by means of threat, use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or abuse of power for the purpose of exploitation.
• Forced Labor: Work or services that people are forced to do against their will under threat of punishment. This includes debt bondage, where individuals are forced to work to pay off debts.
• Debt Bondage: A form of forced labour where a person is bound to work to repay a debt, often under terms that are impossible to meet, effectively trapping them in a cycle of debt and servitude.
• Child Labour: The exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful.
• Domestic Servitude: A form of forced labour where individuals work in private homes and are unable to leave due to coercion, threat, or abuse.
• Forced Marriage: A marriage in which one or both parties are married without their consent or against their will, often involving threats, violence, or other forms of coercion.

Characteristics of Modern Slavery:

• Lack of Freedom: Victims are often unable to leave their situation due to threats, violence, deception, or abuse of power.
• Exploitation: Individuals are exploited through forced labour, sexual exploitation, or other forms of abuse.
• Coercion and Deception: Coercion, threats, and deception are commonly used to control and exploit victims.
• Poor Working Conditions: Victims typically work in hazardous conditions with little or no pay, and often live in substandard conditions.

Impact

Modern slavery has devastating impacts on individuals and communities, including physical and psychological trauma, loss of freedom, and severe economic and social consequences. It undermines human rights, economic development, and the rule of law.

2. Our Commitment to Preventing Modern Slavery within our Workforce

At Serendipity Psychology, we are deeply committed to upholding human rights and maintaining ethical standards across all aspects of our operations. We recognise that modern slavery, including forced labour, human trafficking, and exploitation, is a significant global issue that requires a proactive and sustained effort to eradicate.

Our Policy

We have a zero-tolerance stance towards any form of modern slavery. This stance is integrated into our core values and operational procedures to ensure that all our business activities are conducted ethically and responsibly.

Supplier and Partner Standards

We are dedicated to fostering a supply chain free from modern slavery. We expect our suppliers, contractors, and business partners to adhere to the same high standards. As part of this commitment, we:

Conduct thorough due diligence on new and existing suppliers to assess their compliance with anti-slavery practices.
Require all contractors to agree to this statement and act against modern slavery.
Regularly audit and monitor our supply chain to identify and address any risks of modern slavery.

Employee Awareness and Training

We believe that awareness and education are critical in preventing modern slavery. To this end, we:

Provide space for ongoing reflection and professional development to our associates and employees to help them recognise the signs of modern slavery and understand the appropriate actions to take.

Encourage a culture of transparency and accountability, where employees and associates feel empowered to report any concerns related to modern slavery without fear of retaliation.

Reporting and Accountability

We have established clear reporting mechanisms for any suspected instances of modern slavery within our operations or supply chain. All reports are taken seriously and investigated promptly. We are committed to taking corrective action, including terminating relationships with any suppliers or partners found to be in violation of our standards.

3. Our Commitment to Preventing Modern Slavery for our clients

Modern slavery is a serious issue that intersects with our safeguarding obligations in various ways, particularly in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. Here’s a detailed explanation of how modern slavery relates to safeguarding obligations and what measures should be taken:

Safeguarding:

The measures taken to protect the health, well-being, and human rights of individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults, ensuring they live free from abuse, harm, and neglect.

Safeguarding Obligations we Adhere to in the Context of Modern Slavery

Identification and Prevention:

• Awareness Training: Provide training to our team to recognise signs of modern slavery and understand how to respond appropriately.
• Risk Assessments: Conduct regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential risks of modern slavery within our team.

Reporting and Responding to Concerns:

• Clear Reporting Mechanisms: We have clear, confidential reporting channels for concerns related to modern slavery.
• Immediate Response: We have protocols in place for immediate and appropriate responses to suspected cases, including involving the police and social services where necessary.

Support for Victims:

• Access to Support Services: We ensure victims are linked to access to appropriate support services, including legal assistance, medical care, psychological support, and safe housing.
• Respect and Confidentiality: We treat all victims with respect and maintain confidentiality throughout the process.

Policies and Procedures:

• Robust Policies: We have developed and implemented robust safeguarding and anti-slavery policies, clearly outlining our commitment to preventing exploitation and abuse.
• Regular Reviews: We regularly review and update policies and procedures to ensure they remain effective and compliant with current laws and best practices.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

• Multi-Agency Approach: We work collaboratively with the police, social services, and other relevant agencies to address modern slavery.
• Supply Chain Transparency: Engage with suppliers and business partners to ensure they adhere to anti-slavery practices and maintain transparency in their operations.

Legal Compliance:

• Adherence to Laws: We ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Modern Slavery Act, which mandates transparency and proactive measures to combat slavery.
• Documentation and Reporting: We maintain detailed records of efforts to prevent and address modern slavery and fulfil any legal reporting obligations.

Conclusion

At Serendipity Psychology, we believe that the fight against modern slavery requires vigilance, commitment, and cooperation. We are dedicated to playing our part in eradicating modern slavery and fostering a fair and just world.

For any questions or concerns regarding our Modern Slavery Prevention Policy, please contact us at support@serendipitypsychology.co.uk.