The Aromatherapists Society

SECTION9; PRACTICE ARRANGEMENTS, PREMISES AND ADMINISTRATION

9.1 Registration with the Statutory or Regulatory body

9.1.1. it is the responsibility of an aromatherapist who intends to practise, to register with an aromatherapy association before beginning to practise, and thereafter to renew registration annually.

9.1.2 those who supervise students undertaking the aromatherapy treatment of patients must be registered with an association.

9.2 Agreements of partnership, association or employment

Aromatherapists who enter into any contract of partnership, association or employment shall abide by the terms of such contract, and ensure that such terms are recorded without delay in a formal, written document.

9.3 Limited companies

Aromatherapists who work in a practice, which is run by a limited company, are reminded that they will remain personally liable to individual patients in respect of any treatment or advice, which they provide.

9.4 Health and safety legislation

Aromatherapists shall ensure that they are aware of and comply with all relevant legislative provisions relating to health and safety applying to practice premises, whether such provisions apply to them as employers or as employees.

9.5 Appearance and maintenance of Premises

Aromatherapists shall ensure that the premises in which they practise reflect the professional nature of the practice; are well maintained and orderly; and are hygienic, suitably lit, heated and ventilated.

9.6 Privacy of changing and treatment areas

Aromatherapists shall ensure that the privacy of changing and treatment areas is secured so far as is reasonably possible.

9.7 Insurance

9.7.1 Aromatherapists who are involved in advising or treating clients/patients must be indemnified against claims for professional negligence. This is in the interest both of clients/patients, who may have a right to compensation, and of aromatherapist themselves who may require professional and legal advice in connection with claims made against them.

9.7.2 Failure to arrange adequate indemnity cover, which includes the cost of obtaining professional and legal advice, may lead to a charge of unacceptable professional conduct.

9.7.3 Aromatherapists should also maintain at all times adequate public liability insurance and, where appropriate, employers’ liability insurance.

9.8 Debt Collection

Aromatherapists shall not use debt collecting agencies, or institute legal proceedings to recover sums due, until all other reasonable measures to obtain payment have been taken, and shall ensure that, if such methods are used, only such information relating to the patient is disclosed as is necessary.

9.9 Separation of funds and financial information

9.9.1 in cases where aromatherapists hold money on behalf of another person or body they shall do so in such a way that it is kept separately from their own money, and that they account to the other party for any interest earned by such money.

9.9.2 So far as is practical, financial information relating to a patient should be kept separately from clinical notes.