Our terms and conditions and what you need to know.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully. These terms and conditions govern your use of our service(s); by engaging our service(s) you accept these terms and conditions in full.
“You” and “your” refers to the person engaging our service(s) or, in the case of an assessment being conducted of a child under the age of 18, the parent(s) with parental responsibility or legal carer or the person who has written permission from the parent or legal carer of the child or young person to be assessed by the Autism Assessment service (AAS).
“We” and “us” refers to AAS.
1. You have engaged the Autism Assessment service to undertake the agreed assessment of your child or young person.
2. The results of our proposal for an assessment is based solely on the initial screening conversation held between you and AAS’ representative(s) and any other data you supply. If there is any material misrepresentation or lack of candour on you part in the screening interview, this will impair the efficiency of the research process and AAS can accept no responsibility whatsoever for any resulting inconvenience, expense or deficiencies in the assessment.
3. Please bear in mind that AAS cannot always offer assessment(s) for every condition which may arise. However, we will always try and offer suggestions where possible.
4. You have agreed to inform the AAS if there is any type of dispute in parental views about the child’s referral process. Failure to do so may result in us being unable to continue with the assessment of the child or young person
5. We will only discuss child’s clinical details with those with parental responsibility or legal guardian, unless we have explicit written permission to discuss with someone else on their behalf.
6. We routinely obtain information from other sources such as school and other settings but only with your permission.
7. AAS will confirm the fee prior to assessment based on the type of assessment necessary. The fee only covers the clinicians’ professional fees and includes processing of requested pre-assessment information, assessment and report writing unless expressed otherwise.
8. The fee plan displayed on the website is subject to change. Some more complex assessments may be subject to higher assessment fee than that quoted on the website. However, we will always let you know in advance.
9. The fee does not cover costs of separate assessments requested before, during or after the assessment, unless otherwise clearly stated. For example, if you have to pay for any further recommendations or assessment(s) by another specialist.
10. All fees must be paid prior to any assessments taking place, in line with the details on your invoice. All payments must be made by BACS transfer.
11. Any cancellation or rescheduling request must be made in writing to the Autism Assessment service enquiries@autismassessment.co.uk (or agreed other email address) at least 3 working days prior to the confirmed appointment. Any appointment cancelled less than 3 working days prior to the appointment date will incur the agreed cancellation fee.
12. Non-attendance at the offered appointment date and time will be considered as cancellation with less than 3 working days.
13. The clinician may have to cancel an appointment at short notice (less than 3 working days). There will be no cancellation fee due by the parent/carer in this situation. The clinician will offer the next available appointment or may refund any paid fee should you choose that option. In case where a partial assessment has been undertaken already, the clinician has the right to claim for partial assessment fee including any time spent on analysis of pre-assessment questionnaire or information etc.
14. We reserve the right to cancel the assessment at any stage of assessment process. In this case you will be refunded for any assessment work not carried out.
15. All our clinicians are subject to the Code of Ethics and Conduct of their relevant regulatory body. Complaints and enquiries with regard to assessments, reports, treatment, conduct and ethical issues should be addressed to AAS in the first instance. In the unlikely event of a dispute regarding any aspect of assessment or its outcome, you will still be liable to pay the full assessment fee for the assessments undertaken and all the clinical time spent for the assessment. AAS would encourage you to discuss any concerns with the clinician in order to resolve any matter at the earliest opportunity. We also refer you to our complaints policy which you can be made available on request.
16. AAS has the right to claim the fee for the assessment and use the appropriate channels to claim for any unpaid fee: full or partial.
17. AAS reserves the right to process records for medical care purposes and in your best interest. If AAS has any safeguarding concerns AAS may be obliged to share such information with relevant professionals/authorities.
18. If you need emergency help at any time we ask that you phone the emergency services on 999. Unfortunately, neither AAS nor the clinicians can receive emergency calls.
19. In line with GDPR, AAS will take all reasonable steps to protect the information collected from you and use the information only for the purpose for which it was provided. Please note that by contacting us you explicitly consent to the use of that information as set out in this agreement.
20. For the purpose stated below the information may be stored and processed. You can be sure that in line with GDPR all information will be treated confidentially. On request by you, by a Court of law or any other body entitled thereto by law, we will supply the stored data and correct, delete or prevent the further use of the data held.
21. The parties to this Agreement undertake to one another, where applicable to comply at all times with the Data Protection Acts; including maintaining all necessary registrations and/or notifications required.
22. AAS will not do or permit anything to be done which may cause the other to be in breach of the Data Protection Acts including, without limitation, the improper collection, use, disclosure or loss of data held on any computer or other equipment or held by way of manual or other non-computerised systems.
23. We are committed to protecting your privacy but we cannot guarantee the security of information disclosed by you online since the internet is not a secure medium, and you must assume the entire risk for using the internet. Please therefore be careful and responsible when maintaining the secrecy of any password and/or account information online.
24. In the event that AAS is sold or integrated into another business, your details may be disclosed to our prospective purchaser’s advisers and subsequently to the new owners only for the purposes of maintaining the supply of Services.
25. AAS agree to keep confidential any and all information concerning you, whether disclosed in writing, verbally or in relation to the matters provided for in these Conditions (“the Information”). AAS further agree in particular not to disclose all or any part of that Information to any third party (except the clinician(s) or as may be required by mandatory rule of law or order of court of competent jurisdiction or as required for performance of their obligations under these Conditions).
26. Both parties agree that upon confirmation of an appointment/assessment with AAS and its’ clinician(s), AAS are authorised to release the information to the clinician(s) working with AAS.
27. In the event that we consider that there is a threat to a young person or a third party’s safety during the provision of the Services, we reserve the right to contact your GP or relevant authorities and disclose such Information to the GP or relevant authorities as we deem necessary in order to protect the young person or a third party’s safety. For the purposes of this clause the parties each agree that the Information shall not include:
- information which is or becomes available in the public domain (on the Web site or otherwise);
- information which the recipient can establish was at its free disposal prior to its receipt under or in connection with this Agreement; or
- information at any time received from the recipient from third party not apparently bound (after enquiry) by any obligation of confidence.
28. We acknowledge our duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable people and are committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.
29. Our Safeguarding policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children and vulnerable people are paramount in all circumstances. Please request a copy of our Safeguarding policy for more information.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact us at enquiries@autismassessment.co.uk or call us on 0204 548 6979.
AAS may revise these terms and conditions from time-to-time without any prior notification.