31/10/2020
Another win!!
For many weeks now we have complained to The Scottish Government about the ambiguity of the wording of venues where a therapist can work from.
The previous guidance mentioned ‘their own’ clinic. This led to confusion as therapists thought this meant they had to own the clinic or treatment room themselves entirely and couldn’t return to work if they shared and rented a treatment room on a sessional basis with another therapist such as in a multi disciplinary clinic or salon.
Unfortunately, some therapist were even under the impression that they couldn’t return to work as the toilets for their clinic were communal to a number of business units and not ‘their own’.
Additionally, it took weeks for us to get The Government to understand that many therapists worked from home and that this was their business and should not be considered as a social gathering in a home.
Today, the guidance for the close contact services was updated. The wording they have now used is as a result of numerous emails and suggested wording from the SMTO to offer clarity for our industry.
The word ‘static’ refers now to a venue which is not mobile but more specifically the guidance refers to a ‘home treatment room’ which finally provides clarity where therapists can work from in each tier level.
Once again, this had taken weeks and weeks of effort for what may seem to some just a change of words but, for us, it’s a huge step forward. The guidance is far from perfect - but it is better than where we were in July.