Introduction
If you’re a psychologist, therapist, or any healthcare professional running a private practice, have you ever thought about what happens to your clients and their records if you’re suddenly unable to continue your work? It’s a challenging but essential consideration, and this is where a Clinical Continuity Plan comes into play.
Based on advice from probate lawyers, we realised that using the term Clinical Wills was problematic. It implied a legal document focused on distributing assets rather than a practical plan for ensuring client care continuity. This feedback led us to rename and reframe the service as Clinical Continuity Plans, making it clear that the focus is on maintaining client support and managing practice operations effectively in unforeseen circumstances.
What is a Clinical Continuity Plan?
A Clinical Continuity Plan is a set of procedures that ensures the seamless management of a healthcare professional’s practice in the event they are suddenly unable to work. This could be due to illness, unexpected leave, or even death. It safeguards client welfare and protects your practice by outlining how records are accessed, who takes over your clients care, and what steps need to be taken to maintain confidentiality and compliance.
In essence, it’s your practice’s safety net, offering peace of mind that your clients will not be left without support.
Why Do You Need a Clinical Continuity Plan?
Private practitioners are not just responsible for their day-to-day operations; they also have a duty of care to their clients beyond their immediate availability. Without a plan in place, clients could be left vulnerable, with no clear process for transferring their care or managing their confidential records.
Key reasons why a Clinical Continuity Plan is essential:
- Client Care: Ensures clients have a clear pathway to continued support.
- Legal Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements around data protection and confidentiality.
- Professional Responsibility: Reflects your commitment to ethical practice.
- Practice Closedown:Ensuring that your suppliers, stakeholders, and subscriptions are notified and cancelled properly, giving you peace of mind that all loose ends are tied up.
Who Recommends Clinical Continuity Plans?
Leading professional bodies, such as The British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), BCAP, BPC & UKCP all highlight the importance of having a plan in place. They see it as an essential part of managing a practice ethically and responsibly.
Our Process: Setting Up Your Clinical Continuity Plan
We’ve designed a straightforward process to help healthcare professionals implement a Clinical Continuity Plan with ease. Here’s how it works:
- Complete an Eligibility Form – We start by gathering essential details about your practice.
- Receive a Quote – Based on the information provided, we’ll offer a tailored quote for the service, prices start from £12 +VAT each month
- Sign Contracts – Once you’re ready to proceed, we’ll finalise the agreements.
- Create the Clinical Continuity Plan – You will be asked to complete a plan tailored to your needs.
- Verify Next of Kin (NOK) – We’ll confirm the details of your designated next of kin to ensure clear communication.
- Send NOK Information Sheet – We provide a printout for for easy reference with the contact details that you may need.
- Set Up a Secure Folder – Finally, we create a secure online folder for your documents and share a link with you for easy access.
Our goal is to make the process seamless, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on what matters most—caring for your clients.
How We Can Help
Setting up a Clinical Continuity Plan can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. At Psych VA, we take the hassle out of the process by providing a bespoke service tailored to your needs. With our background in supporting private healthcare practices, we understand the unique requirements of your profession.
Whether you’re just starting out or have an established practice, we’ll guide you through every step of setting up your plan, so you can ensure your clients are in safe hands, no matter what the future holds.
Conclusion
While it’s a tough conversation to have, preparing for the unexpected is a mark of professionalism. A Clinical Continuity Plan is not just a safeguard for your clients, but also a protective measure for your practice’s reputation and legacy. If you’re ready to take this important step, we’re here to help.
To learn more about how we can assist in setting up your Clinical Continuity Plan, contact us today. Your clients’ care continuity starts here.
