Guidelines for Working in Private Practice

Introduction

The guidelines set out below are intended as a basis for good practice and should be used in conjunction with the support, guidance and monitoring of a clinical supervisor, who will be able to underpin, discuss and augment as needed. These guidelines are intended to assist ADMP registered members to consider moving into or developing private practice work.

The supervisor will agree with the practitioner professional development issues, scope and limits of private independent practice to be undertaken and will note this information on the PP application.

To work in private practice Dance Movement Psychotherapists must be registered professionals within ADMP UK, have an appropriately qualified supervisor *, and professional indemnity insurance to cover their clinical practice. It is then necessary for the therapist to apply for registration with ADMP UK to practice in private. Dance Movement Psychotherapists wishing to practice privately will take heed of the guidelines outlined below and review them with their supervisor prior to applying to practice privately. It is strongly recommended that any therapist planning to practice privately complete a further two years of personal therapy in addition to those required for initial registration.

(*Supervisor must be either on the ADMP Register of Clinical Supervisors, or similarly registered/qualified by the other arts therapies or, e.g., UKCP or BACP)

Definition

For the purposes of these guidelines Private Practice is defined as engaging in one’s profession as a Dance Movement Psychotherapists as an independent provider rather than as an employee. The practitioner has a contract directly with the client/s, and is responsible directly to the client/s rather than to an organization. (Please read these guidelines in conjunction with the Code of Professional Practice, CPD guidelines, and Clinical Supervision guidelines.)

Guidelines

ADMP UK professionally registered members who wish to join ADMP official Register of Private Practitioners need to complete an application form which includes the year of professional registration, evidence of professional insurance, and the name, qualifications and signature of current clinical supervisor. The therapist’s supervisor will sign to confirm that a review has taken place of the therapist’s current work and level of private practice to be developed The supervisor will decide in agreement with the therapist whether there are specific conditions for private practice which they both deem essential for safe practice in relation to the therapist’s experience, skills and current capacity. For example these conditions might prescribe working with a specific client group, with groups and/or individuals, within particular settings, or the type, or length of work. These conditions would need to be outlined on the application form and reviewed after one year.

Please note that those members previously registered as SrDMT/P can also request to be listed as Private Practitioners on ADMP website.

Working independently means:

The work occurs on a self-employed basis and therefore the DMP clinician is responsible for all aspects of the clinical work, whether with individuals, or groups, or alongside a co-therapist.

Private practice includes being responsible for:

- finding and maintaining the therapy space

- marketing service/s

- dealing with referrals

- working directly with clients as individuals or in groups

- managing clinical contracts and rates of pay

- undertaking risk assessments and evaluation

- maintaining, updating and storing clinical notes

- sourcing and paying for appropriate type and level of insurance/s

- finding and paying for adequate clinical supervision and CPD

- keeping up with current legislation as it relates to the client groups

- keeping up with current developments and changes within the profession

Private practitioners must work within the limits of their training, qualifications and professional registration.

Setting/s for private practice:

Work might take place within a setting where other professionals are also working independently, where no one else is working at the same time, or within the therapist’s home. It is the therapist’s responsibility to ensure that the practice environment is safe, protects the client/s’ privacy, and is a functional space for DMP work.

Contracting/ note keeping / risk assessment:

A contract will need to be drawn up which should include:

fee, method of payment, frequency and duration of sessions, notification of holiday/absences, notice of cancellation, notice for ending therapy

client’s permission to contact his/her GP ( General Practitioner) or whoever is responsible for the clients medical welfare, or partner / carer or next of kin should it be necessary to do so in case of serious risk to the client or others.

contact details of the client, their GP and next of kin, where appropriate

contact details of a designated consultee (significant carer) who can assist with discerning the client’s opinion in cases where the client lacks mental capacity. (See Relevant Legislation section below).

Other aspects to consider when contracting:

appreciation of the nature of body work and the possible use of touch in DMP

recognition that the therapy is done under clinical supervision

appreciation of other factors which might influence the development & outcome of the therapy including culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, education, and disability.

making a ‘living will’ covering who will inform the client/s and take responsibility of clinical notes in circumstances where therapist dies suddenly or becomes incapacitated.

having a referral network with contact details will be useful so that the practitioner can refer a client on to someone else as/when appropriate

termination of therapy should ideally be done in conjunction with the client/s and will include a final discharge or referral notes

Note keeping:

Clinical records of attendance and summary notes are to be maintained and stored securely and confidentially. (refer to ADMP UK website for information concerning length of time notes should be stored)

If clinical notes are to be kept on therapist’s computer, the therapist must register and comply with DPA (Data Protection Authority) regulations. There is a cost. For information see the following websites : http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/geting_it_right_-_how_to_comply_checklist.pdf and http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_guide.aspx

Risk assessment:

A risk assessment will include the areas of expertise and experience of the therapist. It may include a referral, a clinical history (including any instances of self-harming, suicide attempts, harming others, forensic history), current medication, previous experience of therapy, physical or learning disabilities or (or epilepsy, diabetes etc).

Practitioners will need clarity about the attendant risks of clients who may react inappropriately during a DMP session and management of such an outcome.

If working in isolation either with groups or individuals it will be important to risk assess all aspects of the therapeutic space being used. For example, if working in a building where there are no other people on site or in a room in one’s own home – the practitioner will need:

telephone in the room with a fast dial function

back up strategy in case of emergency

to check whether public liability as well as professional indemnity insurance will be required and whether business use insurance may be needed.

Additional considerations of access, toilets, waiting room space and equipment may also need to be addressed according to setting and client/s’ needs.

Clinical Supervision:

Adequate supervision is to be sought for the type and amount of private practice work undertaken. The frequency of supervision should be discussed with an appropriate supervisor. (See Supervision guidelines for clarification The practitioner should notify the supervisor about where the private practice takes place and what risk assessments have been implemented.

Relevant Legislation:

Therapists in private practice should ensure that they are aware of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and if working with young people, should be fully informed about the Children Act and the Child Protection legislation. (See www.legislation.gov.uk)

If working with people lacking capacity to consent, due to brain injury or learning disability, therapists should also be aware of the section on MCA (Mental Capacity Act). (See www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents)

Guidelines for Private Practice

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