WRITING A REFERRAL

LETTERCommunication Success Module

WHY REFER CLIENTS ON?

Referring clients on is an important part of your skill base as a practitioner. It can help to have the following methods in mind when considering referrals:

Get to know the communities resources Explore the clients need for a referral –

will they get upset or offended? Be honest about your own limitations

and what it is that you have observed to make referring the most appropriate option.

WHY REFER CLIENTS ON (CONT) Be careful not to refer to a specific

service/agency with implications that all clients problems will be solved by this.

Do not release any information about the client to a referral agent without the consent of a client; and

Give your client a copy of the referral letter for their records.

WRITING THE REFERRAL LETTER Know your objective; What results do you want to produce? Organise your letter logically; Know your audience; Use plain English; and Include a call for action.

WRITE A REFERRAL LETTER Scenario – Client - Lorraine Stefanie Clare Mitchell Was in a car accident where a car hit her

rear bumper. She now has a sore neck and can’t

move it very well. She also has a sore bottom and back. She thinks a massage will fix it and

didn’t think she needed to go to a medical practitioner.

SPECIAL NEEDS CLIENTS Who are special needs clients? Why are they considered special needs? What different client management

strategies do you need to employ?

CATEGORIES OF SPECIAL NEEDS CLIENTS Physical disabilities or challenges Mental disabilities or challenges Emotional challenges Cultural considerations.

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES OR CHALLENGES

People in a wheelchair Sight impaired Hearing impaired People with specific injuries

MENTAL DISABILITIES OR CHALLENGES

PTSD Oversensitive / highly stressed OCD Autism Psychological Bi Polar Alzheimers Dementia Depression Schizophrenia Post Natal Depression Eating Disorders

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS Religious Considerations Sub Cultures – members of cults,

gothics, bikeys, gangs.

NEGOTIATION SKILLS EXERCISE Form two teams One team are Om Shanti College

Management One team are potential contractors to

perform therapists duties in the Om Shanti College Wellbeing Clinic.

The Management REALLY want this team of therapists to work in the clinic

The contractors want to work for Om and ONLY Om.

The two teams need to create a WIN/WIN contract.