Service verification checklist

Before choosing a therapy centre, ask better questions.

A polished room, a social-media page, or a confident promise does not tell you whether a service is appropriate for your child.

01

Who will work with the child?

Ask for names, roles, and qualifications.

  • Who performs the initial assessment?
  • What qualification and training does each professional have?
  • Who actually provides the sessions after assessment?
  • How is supervision handled for junior staff or trainees?
  • Can the centre explain each person's role in plain language?
02

How is the plan made?

Good support should have a reason and a review point.

  • What specific difficulty or participation goal is the intervention addressing?
  • How were the goals chosen?
  • How will progress be measured and explained to the family?
  • When will the plan be reviewed or changed?
  • How are parents or caregivers involved in understanding the plan?
03

Money and commitment

Understand the financial commitment before agreeing.

  • What does each assessment or session cost?
  • Is a large package required before the first review?
  • What is the cancellation or refund policy?
  • Can you receive written invoices and a written plan?
04

Red flags

Be cautious around certainty that sounds too easy.

  • Promises of a guaranteed cure or guaranteed developmental outcome.
  • Pressure to buy a large package before an adequate assessment or explanation.
  • Refusal to explain qualifications, goals, or progress measures.
  • Instructions to stop appropriate medical care without the relevant qualified clinician.
  • Use of a child's identifiable images or records without clear consent and privacy safeguards.