{"id":17395,"date":"2021-08-14T13:38:05","date_gmt":"2021-08-14T12:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bant.org.uk\/?page_id=17395"},"modified":"2025-08-19T19:12:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T18:12:14","slug":"consultation-documentation-and-practices","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bant.org.uk\/bant-professional-practice-handbook\/consultation-documentation-and-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"CONSULTATION DOCUMENTATION AND PRACTICES"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” el_id=”top-section” z_index=”” css=”.vc_custom_1619337773730{padding-bottom: 45px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTVCcHJpbnRmcmllbmRseSU1RA==[\/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Setting expectations with clients using consultation documentation such as a Terms of Engagement Agreement, information on consumer rights, cooling-off periods, and benefiting from trade discounts and commissions. Also covered are the requirements for taking case notes and storing\/deleting client records in line with professional standards and UK GDPR, health and safety and first aid courses, considerations and risks when working alone and information on auditing your practice.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” anchor=”main_anchor1″][vc_column]\n\n\t\n\t Consultation Documentation<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Consumer Rights and Cooling-off Period<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Trade Discounts and Commissions<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Taking Client Case Notes<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Storing and Deleting Client Records<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Health and Safety \/ First Aid<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Working Alone<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”5″ up=”2″ down=”2″]\n\n\t\n\t Auditing your Practice<\/span><\/i><\/span>\t<\/a>\n\n[vc_separator type=”transparent” thickness=”30″][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” anchor=”consultation-documentation” el_class=”anchordiv”][vc_column_inner el_class=”anchor_col” css=”.vc_custom_1618397491357{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-right: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Consultation Documentation:<\/i> Top<\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n

Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (NTs) must appropriately set and manage clients\u2019 expectations from the outset.\u00a0 Being clear on aspects such as payment terms, refund policies, timelines for receiving documents and available support can help to prevent issues and possible complaints. These expectations can be communicated verbally on a discovery call prior to the commencement of nutritional therapy consultations and terms and conditions made clear using appropriate documentation.<\/p>\n

NTs are advised to use a Terms of Engagement Agreement<\/a>\u00a0with their clients and for both parties to sign this at the start of the consultation process.\u00a0 This Agreement aims to provide mutual protection and reference throughout and make the remit of the consultation clear and transparent.<\/p>\n

The Terms of Engagement Agreement only relates to the practice of nutritional therapy. If an NT includes other modalities<\/a> in the consultation, they will need to make this clear from the outset and provide a separate Terms of Engagement for the other modality.<\/p>\n

If a client aged 16 or over is unable to complete or sign their own Terms of Engagement Agreement, this must be signed by a third party on behalf of the client such as a parent\/guardian. This person must also attend the consultation<\/a>. If consulting with clients under the age of 16, NTs are advised to use a Child Terms of Engagement Agreement<\/a> which is completed by the parent\/guardian on behalf of the child and follow the guidelines for working with Children<\/a><\/p>\n

NTs are recommended to use the standard wording provided in Part 1 of the Terms of Engagement Agreement template<\/a>. \u00a0If a practitioner does not have a sufficient Terms of Engagement Agreement to cover the consultation, BANT will be limited in its ability to support the member in the case of a complaint relating to professional practice.<\/p>\n

NTs can include their logo on the Agreement and amend the subsequent section in Part 2, to provide additional information about their business.\u00a0 Examples include:<\/p>\n