Chaperone Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect both patients and practitioners during consultations, examinations, and treatments by ensuring the appropriate use of chaperones. This policy supports clinical governance, patient dignity and professional accountability.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All aesthetic / practitioners employed by PharmaSkin Aesthetics.
All patients receiving face-to-face care at the clinic.
All clinical and non-clinical staff involved in client care.

3. Definition of a Chaperone

A chaperone is a trained staff member who acts as a witness during a consultation or procedure to:

Provide emotional reassurance and support to the client.
Ensure the practitioner maintains appropriate conduct.
Assist with the procedure if required.
Safeguard the practitioner from false allegations.

4. When to Offer a Chaperone

A chaperone must be offered in the following situations during aesthetic treatments:

Examinations requiring the patient to remove any item of clothing revealing exposure to the body.
When either the patient or practitioner feels uncomfortable.

The offer should be clearly documented in the client’s notes, noting whether it was accepted or declined.

5. Patient Information and Consent

Patients should be informed of their right to have a chaperone before the consultation or treatment begins and this should be requested and confirmed ahead of any treatment booking confirmation.

A clear explanation of what the procedure involves should be given.

Verbal consent must be obtained and documented before any examination or treatment.

If a chaperone is declined, this must be documented with a note confirming that the offer was made.

6. Who Can Be a Chaperone

A chaperone must:

Be a staff member trained in chaperoning protocols.
Understand their role and responsibilities.
Be of the same sex as the client if possible, depending on the client’s preference.
Be present for the duration of the procedure.

Family members or friends cannot act as official chaperones.

7. Responsibilities of the Chaperone

Position themselves to observe the procedure clearly.
Respect the patient’s privacy and dignity at all times.
Speak up if they witness inappropriate behaviour.
Document their presence in the patient record (name, time, role).

8. Documentation Requirements

The practitioner must document:

The offer of a chaperone.
The client’s decision (acceptance or refusal).
The chaperone’s name and designation.
Any concerns raised during the encounter.

Example entry:

“Offered chaperone prior to dermal filler procedure; patient declined. Proceeded with consent. No concerns. – Shiraz Shaffi (Aesthetic Practitioner).”

9. Staff Training

All staff acting as chaperones must undergo Chaperone training during induction.

Training includes:

Patient privacy and dignity.
Communication skills.
Recognising abuse or inappropriate behaviour.
Proper documentation protocols.

10. Breaches of Policy

Any breach of this policy or concerns raised by staff or patients should be escalated to the PharmaSkin Aesthetics Policies SRO (named senior responsible officer – Shiraz Shaffi). Formal incidents must be recorded and investigated in line with the PharmaSkin’s complaints or disciplinary procedures.

11. Review of Policy

This policy will be reviewed bi-annually, after any incident or complaint involving chaperoning or when changes in regulatory guidelines occur.