Treatment Agreement
Purpose
We are The Focus Group, and we would like to extend a warm welcome – thank you for choosing to have your treatment with us. Our mission is to promote positive change/healing, and we are driven by the human desire to connect.
This treatment agreement expresses our commitment to ensure ethical, safe and transparent practice and to help you make the most of your time with us. If you are unsure about any aspect of this agreement, please discuss any questions with your therapist.
Integrity
As an NHS patient accessing care with Focus, your personal information will be stored by the NHS, and you have a right to access information held about you.
On completion of your treatment your clinician will seek your cooperation to write a summary of your work together and this will include the first and final PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, for your GP. They will not share information with anyone else without your consent.
The NHS recommend that a consolidation period occurs post-discharge, of approximately 3-6 months, to focus on implementing learning from therapy, before re-referring.
There are certain circumstances in which we have an obligation to share information without your consent; however, we always prefer to obtain your consent. These may include situations where there is a risk of imminent danger of harm to self or someone else, concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult, or public protection.
Focus is not a crisis service; your clinician will direct you to engage with NHS crisis care or emergency services if you feel unable to keep yourself safe from harm.
Dedication
Our Commitment
Your clinician will work with you to ensure that you are receiving the appropriate treatment and that it is effective. If at any time, either party has any concerns about it being the right fit, they will discuss this with you and consider alternative options as appropriate.
Your clinician will support you to build awareness and understanding of problems and develop strategies to help you to cope. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can involve tasks both in and outside of the session. They may ask you to complete reading and tasks between sessions, and send information to support you in these tasks, and adapt to assist you.
Your care remains confidential between you and the Focus/NHS professionals involved. Included in this, to ensure you receive the best possible service, your clinician will receive clinical supervision.
Your clinician will be open with you about their professional registrations which are verified by the service. They will work within the limits of their competence and will strive to foster a relationship with you which is based on trust and respect.
Your clinician will be clear about the duration and frequency of your sessions. At Focus, sessions typically last for 50 minutes and are arranged on a fortnightly basis, though this varies depending on therapy type. Video links as required will be sent in advance, up to 15 minutes prior.
Your Commitment
There is an expectation that as an NHS service, you will make yourself available to attend on a regular basis within service hours. If you are unable to attend for more than two consecutive sessions, please contact your clinician or our Administration Team to discuss.
If you are unable to attend a session, we ask that you let us know. Cancelling with less than the required notice may lead to a missed appointment and a reduced total session number. If you miss a session without contacting us, we will contact you. If we don’t hear from you within 7 days, we could discharge you from our care. If you miss multiple sessions without contact, or have several avoidable cancellations, we could discharge you.
East Riding Talking Therapies – 48 hours’ notice
Hull Talking Therapies – 24 hours’ notice
As the service is free to access, one of our key requirements is that you attend and be on time. If you attend late to a session, there is no guarantee you will be seen. We request that you attend free of the influence of substances unless they are prescribed. We also request that between-session tasks are completed as appropriate to your therapy.
We expect our staff to be treated as you would like to be treated, and we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ policy regarding violent language or behaviour, or harassment. Our staff are unable to engage in contact with clients outside of the work environment or on social media.
To ensure that we can continue to provide a service that meet your needs, please inform us if your details change – for example your contact details, address, GP details or accessibility requirements. Please also ensure that you are in a private and confidential space for therapy.
A further part of your commitment is to complete questionnaires at each appointment, to regularly monitor your progress. NHS Talking Therapies aim for a level of improvement whereby your symptoms of anxiety and/or depression no longer interfere with day-to-day life. Your therapist can explain this further.
Compassion
We understand that receiving therapy can be a challenging time, and endeavour to undertake our work with compassion and empathy. Our therapists will work to cultivate trust, empathy and respect within the work that you undertake.
If you have any queries or concerns, please discuss these with your clinician in the first instance. If you feel that it is appropriate, our Administrative or Clinical Oversight Team are also able to assist and provide advice.
We want to ensure you receive the best possible care from us, and so, we may ask you for feedback, to ensure that we maintain the best standards of practice. We also enjoy hearing about the successes of our therapists and their clients and understanding what has nurtured change.
If we fall short, you have a right to raise a concern or complaint, and this will not impact the care that you receive. We appreciate the trust that clients/patients place in us, and the vulnerable position of raising a concern – and we will receive these with compassion and integrity.
Innovation
Therapy is an innovative, co-created endeavour and we will try our best to meet the needs of the person.
We will strive to find an appointment that meets your needs, though there may be circumstances where this is not possible.
We will aim to adapt our therapy to support you, for example by using easy read, translated or visual materials, or ensuring that we provide an accessible room.
If there is anything else we need to know about you, to ensure you receive the best possible treatment, please discuss this with your clinician at the earliest opportunity.
