🐾 We offer a range of services detailed in our interactive brochure. Click here to find exactly what you need.
🐾 We are also able to tailor-make sessions to suit your needs and possibly even make suggestions of what may work in particular circumstances. Click here to contact us and we can get the ball rolling.
🐾 Bookings can be made by contacting us by email, online message, phone or through our social media channels.
🐾 Invoices will be issued upon booking and payment is requested at this time.
🐾 Please give at least 48 hours notice by email (mel@rainbowskyes.com) for cancellations and postponements. If we cannot attend for any reason, for example Skye is unwell, I will offer a full refund or we can rearrange.
🐾 In advance of your visit, we will request the details of your Designated Safeguarding Officer.
🐾 Mel holds an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate, which means she can work on a 1:1 basis with children and young people without another adult present, unless this is a preference or necessity due to a child/young person's needs.
🐾 Mel has vast experience working with children and young people, including those who are vulnerable and those with additional needs. Rainbow Skyes will report any safeguarding concerns and appreciate the welfare of children and young people is paramount.
🐾 Rainbow Skyes has specialist dog therapy insurance that includes public liability up to £5,000,000. Certificate supplied on request. Settings may wish to check their own policies regarding visiting dogs.
🐾 A risk assessment is provided for all dog therapy visits. A sample document can be downloaded here if you wish to prepare your own.
🐾 Skye is in good health on examination by her vet, fully vaccinated and wormed. She is groomed and cleaned regularly.
🐾 We all love to share special moments and celebrate achievements. Photographs or videos taken during therapy session visits can be done by the setting under their policies and procedures around consent. Please tag us in your social media posts. www.facebook.com/rainbow.skyes.dog.therapy
🐾 Parental consent will be sought for all photography taken by Rainbow Skyes.
🐾 When attending events, we ensure only children and young people who have given consent are photographed, e.g. those with 'green bands' or whatever means of identification is being used.
🐾 If you could kindly share any photographs, videos or social media posts, that would be lovely!
🐾 I will assume media shared with us has the necessary consent to use on our website or social media channels.
🐾 We recommend that you seek parental consent for all children and young people who will come into contact with Skye during our visit. You can download and adapt our consent letter here. We assume consent has been obtained by you, the client, unless otherwise stated.
🐾 Rainbow Skyes will seek consent when working directly with a child/young person through our online form.
🐾 It is useful to obtain general consent, even for those not directly working with Skye. This means she can do playground visits, for example, and say hello to anyone she meets while she is in your setting.
🐾 When attending an event where parent/carers are responsible for their child or young person, consent forms may not be required. Parent/carers can assess the suitability for themselves and by allowing their child or young person to participate, consent is assumed.
🐾 Rainbow Skyes will follow policies belonging to the client. These will be requested upon booking.
🐾 Data we collect regarding your booking will include a contact name, number and email, the name and address of the setting and the name and designation of the responsible adult/s during this session/s. This information will be kept in our files and can be removed at your request.
🐾 Any information or documentation obtained or shared with us regarding children and young people relevant to carrying out therapy sessions will be treated in the strictest confidence. The information will be kept in our files for the duration of the allocated sessions. Digital data will be stored in our Rainbow Skyes Google Drive*. Information will be deleted upon confirmation that no further sessions are required.
🐾 Any documents we write will only be shared with relevant practitioners, in agreement with parents/carers. They will be stored in our Rainbow Skyes Google Drive*. Documents can be permanently deleted at your request.
🐾 Email correspondence will never include a child/young person's name or date of birth in the subject. Initials will be used.
🐾 Rainbow Skyes uses Google Forms to collect information. The forms clearly state the purpose of collecting the data, how it will be stored and who, if anyone, it will be shared with. Form data is stored in our Rainbow Skyes Google Drive*. Data can be deleted at your request at any time.
* Rainbow Skyes Google account is private, has 2-factor authentication and has no collaborators. Data stored by Google is encrypted. Rainbow Skyes Google account can be accessed only by us via our personal devices. All devices are protected with fingerprint or face recognition. If a device were to become lost or stolen, Rainbow Skyes Google account will be deleted, all data transferred to a new location and you will be informed if this includes your data.
🐾 Skye will be on her lead, with Mel, her handler, at all times.
🐾 Skye has never attacked or bitten anyone and is extremely, unlikely to. She has an excellent temperament and is very tolerant of most behaviours but it must always be remembered that she is an animal that, occasionally, can be unpredictable. The benefits of dog therapy far outweigh any risks.
🐾 All children and young people will need to follow our rules and health and safety information, which will be explained at the start of every session and displayed. If a young person cannot understand or follow these rules, it is advised that they attend a session with adult supervision.
🐾 In the extremely unlikely event that a young person was hurt as a result of a dog therapy session, your setting’s first aid policies and procedures need to be followed. An investigation would follow as to how and why the incident occurred and consideration given to any necessary changes in practice.
🐾 Rules can be downloaded here, which includes different versions to suit your needs.
🐾 Mel is a highly experienced teacher, having taught all age ranges from nursery to Year 6. Mel also has done a lot of small group and 1:1 work with young people with additional needs. This means she has more to offer than many other dog therapy handlers, and only needs another adult present for larger groups.
🐾 For sessions where Mel takes a leading role, prior discussions take place to ensure the needs of the group are understood. Where additional needs are complex, it may be appropriate to request support from another adult in the setting.
🐾 It is important to ensure Skye’s needs are met for her to be settled and calm. She is provided with water and monitored throughout.
🐾 Individual sessions are usually 1 hour but she can manage up to 1.5 hours. With breaks of at least 10 minutes, she can work for up to 3 hours a day.
🐾 You will need to identify an appropriate outdoor area for toileting and a relatively quiet indoor area for breaks (this could be a staffroom, library or other area away from children and young people).
🐾 Skye must not be offered any food and no food is allowed in the room with her.
🐾 If Skye were to show signs of being unwell, the visit would need to be cancelled and rearranged.
🐾 In the rare event of having to end a session early or take a break from a session for toileting, mutually agreed compensation will be arranged, e.g. extra time for the next session, session upgrade or session discount.
