Making referrals
All referrals should be made on the forms available on this web site. The forms may be faxed, posted or emailed to the referring agency. When posted, the forms, along with any additional paperwork, should be sealed in an envelope marked ‘private and confidential’.
Receiving referrals
When referrals are received they should be acknowledged in writing, using the reply slip. The reply slip can be faxed, emailed or posted back to the referring agency. Acknowledgement should be made within 48 hours of receiving the referral.
Response times
Initial contact with the client should be made within 5 working days of receiving the referral. If, however, this deadline cannot be met for reasons such as leave or sickness, the referee should be informed in writing of the following;
- Reason for delay in initial contact
- Estimation of when initial contact will be made and by whom
- A date when referring agency will be contacted with an update
Feedback
It is important for the sake of tracking that the referring agency is given feedback on interventions made with clients. The referring PA should request written feedback from the PA that received the referral within 6 weeks of sending the referral. The feedback should include a brief summary of the following:
- Initial contact
- Methods of intervention
- Barriers
- Positive outcomes
- Referrals to other agencies
Please note that the above guidance does not aim to override any existing good practice amongst PA’s. It aims to enhance and bring structure to current ways of working. PA’s should continue to use informal means of referral (such as via telephone) IN ADDITION to the above guidance in order to convey information the best way possible.