FACT:
it is a legal requirement for Beauty Therapists to perform a client
consultation before every treatment – even if the client is a
regular. Failure to do so can invalidate your insurance and cost you
thousands if a claim is ever made against you.
Yet,
how often does this actually happen? How often have you entered into
a salon or spa and actually had the therapist sit down and go over
your medical requirements (allergies or medical conditions) and what
to expect from the treatment?
The
reality is - it happens more often that you think, especially with
reoccurring clients.
That
is why, if you are genuinely interested in perusing a career as a
Beauty Therapist, you need to know all of the facts. You need to
equip yourself with Beauty Therapy courses (there are tonnes of
online Beauty Therapy courses to choose from which can help you with
this) that will not only ensure that you know how to perform beauty
treatments correctly; but that will help you to fully understand your
legal requirements and expectations as a Beauty Therapist.
What
can you do to protect yourself?
Alongside
ensuring that you perform a client consultation before every
treatment, it is also recommended that you create a client
contract/card.
This
essentially takes everything that you discussed during the
consultation, and puts it into writing.
And
this is vital because should you ever be in a situation where a
client forgets to tell you about an allergy or an issue with their
back or skin; this written agreement is proof that they never
provided you with the information.
In
fact, this written agreement can protect your reputation and business
in a number of ways, because the truth is… even if they are a
regular… even if you consider them a loyal friend… it only takes
one time – one mistake – for them to turn on you and launch a
lawsuit.
This
is why, the following advice is so important:
Step
One: Arrange a Client Consultation
Client
consultations are a perfect way for you to keep a client’s record
up-to-date and accurate. It allows them to update you on any changes
to their allergies, skin, hair and nails – which can naturally
happen with time – so you can easily modify their treatments to
accommodate these changes.
At
the same time, client consultations also allow you to talk your
clients through the entire process of their treatment, so they fully
understand what you are about to do; what to expect; the risks
involved, and what you will use to perform the treatment.
And
all of this is important information!
Take
pointing out potential risks. It is crucial that clients are fully
aware of the things that can go wrong during a procedure, so that
they can make an informed decision about whether they wish to
continue. Yes, these complications are probably unlikely or rare, but
it is essential that you are completely honest with them, so that
their expectations remain realistic.
In
turn, client consultations also offer clients the chance to voice any
concerns or questions they may have, and keep the doors to
communication open and honest.
Bearing
all of this in mind, when performing a client consultation you need
to gather the following information:
* Personal
details
* Medical
history (NOTE: if they have recently had surgery, you should only
carry out treatment once you have received a written letter from
their doctor stating that it is okay).
* Contra-indications
– these are any health conditions that could mean that you need to:
approach the treatment with caution; avoid certain areas of the body,
or not perform the treatment at all.
* Client
lifestyle
* Treatment
record
Now
contra-indications are a tricky business as not all insurers have the
same list. For this reason, it is critical that you speak to your
insurance company first to find out which contra-indications you need
to check for when speaking to clients. Once you have this knowledge,
you will then know exactly which ones you are covered for and which
ones you aren’t.
Once
you have gathered all of the above information, you will need to get
the client to review the form and offer them a chance to ask any
questions. These questions can range from anything from the treatment
itself, to the products you will use, to what to expect.
Once
they are fully satisfied, you will need to get them to sign the form
(a bit like a contract) confirming that they are happy for you to
proceed with the treatment.
Again,
even if they visit you regularly, it is important that you get them
to review the consultation form every time, so that they have got a
chance to inform you of any changes to their situation.
NOTE:
as a Beauty Therapist it is important to remember that clients are
trusting you with private information about bodies. They are speaking
to you in confidence and expect you to maintain their privacy.
For
this reason, when constructing a client contract you need to make
sure that you have got data protection policies in place to ensure
that their information is stored correctly and remains private and
confidential.
Step
Two: Client Contract
Whilst
one-to-one consultations are a vital part of the process; for your
protection you need to translate everything you have spoken about
into a written contract. This will protect you in the unlikely event
that they make an insurance claim, as the contract will document all
of the health information they provided you with, as well as will
show that you took all necessary steps to collect their information
and inform them of what to expect from the procedure.
Now
for a lot of Beauty Therapists, they choose to use consultation cards
to store information and keep a record of any contra-indications
which might stop them from performing a treatment. Should you choose
to follow this route, it is your responsibility to keep these
consultation cards safe and store them securely in a locked cabinet
(to ensure you comply with data protection).
Step
Three: Performing the Treatment
You’ve
performed a consultation. You have gathered all of the appropriate
information, and the client has reviewed and signed it. You are ready
to perform the treatment. Yet the process is still not over.
Following
the treatment, it is vital that you assess what happened and make a
note of any observations you’ve made. Next, you will need to offer
your client clear after care advice which includes any natural
reactions they may experience following the treatment.
For
instance, if your client has undergone some skincare treatment for
acne, and it is natural for their skin to appear inflamed for 10 days
afterwards; it is crucial that you make them aware of this.
Protecting
yourself
Whether
you plan to pursue a career as a Beauty Therapist working in a spa or
for yourself, client contracts can offer you the protection you need
to keep your reputation and business alive. So if you interested in
offering yourself maximum protection, make sure you know all of the
facts; have all the correct training, and know how to effectively put
these contracts into action.
Do
that, and you can explore this industry niche with ease.
* Guest
post *
No comments:
Post a Comment