Corona Virus Policy

With regard to the COVID-19 Corona Virus pandemic, I am able to provide online therapy sessions and face to face therapy sessions will be assessed on an individual basis.

Changes made in the office

Office seating in the therapy room has been arranged in order to provide appropriate physical distancing.
We will maintain safe distancing at all times.
Windows can be opened in order to provide good ventilation is maintained
Anti bacterial hand wash in provided as is alcohol based hand sanitiser and everyone is encouraged to use this. This is available upon entering the building and within the therapy room.
We schedule appointments at specific intervals to minimise and ideally avoid the use of the waiting room and to provide at least 2 hours gap in between each client.
We ask that you arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before your appointment time.
I am happy for you/us to wear a face mask if this would make you comfortable and I will also wear a visor.
Credit card pads, pens and other areas that are commonly touched are thoroughly sanitised after each use. Contactless payment is preferred where possible.
Physical contact is not permitted.
Tissues and trash bins are easily accessed and disinfected after each session.
Trash is disposed of on a frequent basis.
Common areas are thoroughly disinfected on a regular basis.

Meeting Face-to-Face

If there is a resurgence of the pandemic or if other health concerns arise, however, I may require that we meet online (Zoom or Skype) or by phone. If you have concerns about meeting online, we will talk about it first and try to address any issues. You understand that, if I believe it is necessary, I may determine that we return to online sessions for everyone’s well-being.

If you decide at any time that you would feel safer staying with or returning to, online services, I will respect that decision, as long as it is feasible and clinically appropriate.

Risks of Opting for In-Person Services

You understand that by coming to the office, you are assuming the risk of exposure to the coronavirus (or other public health risks). This risk may increase if you travel by public transportation.

Our Responsibility to Minimise Exposure

To obtain services in person, we agree to take certain precautions which will help keep everyone you, me, and our families, safer from exposure, sickness and possible death. If you do not adhere to these safeguards, it may result in face to face session being unavailable. Initial each to indicate that you understand and agree to these actions:

We will only keep your in-person appointment if you are symptom-free.
You will not attend a session if you have a high temperature.
You will wait in your car or outside until no earlier than 5 minutes before our appointment time.
You will wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when you enter the building.
We will adhere to the safe distancing precautions we have set up in the waiting room and therapy room.
You will wear a mask in the waiting area.
We will keep a distance of 6 feet and there will be no physical contact (e.g. no shaking hands).
We will try not to touch our face or eyes with our hands. Or immediately wash or sanitise our hands.
We will take steps between appointments to minimise our exposure to COVID.
If we are exposed to other people who are infected, we will inform each other.
If a resident of your home on mine tests positive for the infection, we will inform each other.

I may change the above precautions if additional local, or government guidelines are published. If that happens, we will talk about any necessary changes.

If You or I Are Sick or have symptoms

You understand that I am committed to keeping you, me, and all of our families safe from the spread of this virus. If you show up for an appointment and I believe that you have a fever or other symptoms, or believe you have been exposed, I will have to require you to leave the office immediately. We can follow up with services by zoom or telephone call as appropriate.

If I test positive for the coronavirus, I will notify you so that you can take appropriate precautions.

Your Confidentiality in the Case of Infection

If you have tested positive for the coronavirus, I may be required to notify local health authorities that you have been in the office. If I have to report this, I will only provide the minimum information necessary for their data collection and will not go into any details about the reason(s) for our visits. In attending face to face sessions you are agreeing that I may do so without an additional signed release.

During practice hours:

The distance between chairs has been extended.
Chairs are sprayed with a disinfectant spray between clients.
Please ask if you require a face mask.
Please wear a face make in communal areas in the building - stairs and waiting room.
I am washing my hands between clients.
I will be keeping social contacts to a minimum and social distancing.
Your appointment may be cancelled with short notice if I become unwell or government guidance dictates.
The practice is being disinfected at the end of each day.
General face-to-face sessions will significantly reduce.
Anyone who is self-isolating will be asked to suspend sessions or have on-line therapy.

Alternative options for therapy sessions:

I am happy to offer online or telephone therapy sessions to anyone who requests it regardless of whether you have symptoms.
Please contact me in advance if you wish to arrange an online session and I will send you a link to access this service. I use a secure GDPR-compliant online platform called Zoom (https://zoom.us/).

What I will do if I or anyone in the setting where I practice is symptomatic:

In these circumstances, I will contact you without delay via telephone or E-mail. If you have recently changed your e-mail or telephone number, please notify me of any changes.
You will then be informed following the period of self-isolation when the practice re-opens.

What you should do if you are symptomatic:

If you are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms, however mild, such as a new persistent cough or fever, you should not attend your upcoming appointment.
Please contact me via E-mail, text or leave a voicemail on - 07801 261 568

In these circumstances, we can either suspend sessions until you are ready to resume or sessions can continue online.

Review Process:

The above procedure will be reviewed on a regular basis and may change at short notice based on government guidelines. I will continue to keep you updated on any further actions regarding this matter.

General points:

For information on how to protect yourself from the Coronavirus, you should always follow the latest Government advice. For up to date guidance visit: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/

If you have any questions or concerns in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.