1) Introduction

As an organisation that exists to deliver services to vulnerable women and their children it’s important for us to be clear about who can join our groups and how.

Having a clear procedure helps our leaders, project partners and beneficiaries know what to expect.

This policy and procedure applies regardless of whether the service is self-funded or funded via a grant or contract. 

2) Access to our services

Singing Mamas training, events and local groups are only available to perinatal women and women who are their allies. [1] For more information about this you can see our Equality, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism Policy here: https://www.singingmamas.org/EIDAR-policy

In certain scenarios access to funded services (which are free for women that attend) may be restricted (such as by postcode, age of child etc) due to conditions by a funder or partner. When services are restricted access this will be explicit on all advertising material and reiterated in the registration process.

3) Types of referrals

Self-Referral

A ‘self-referral’ describes a person getting in touch with a service independently to request to register.

Any woman can self-refer to a Singing Mamas community group by getting in contact with the leader who runs the programme. A list of all community groups and their contact details can be found on our website here: https://www.singingmamas.org/find-a-group

It is often the case that women can also self-refer to Singing Mamas funded programmes providing they meet the criteria. If the programme requires a professional referral this will be made clear on all marketing material.

Professional Referral (‘Social Prescribing’)

A ‘professional referral’ describes a process where a health or social care professional contacts a service to register a patient.

A professional can refer any woman to our Community Groups by encouraging / supporting women to get in contact using the self-referral process.

It is sometimes the case that we work with health or social care partners who have their own internal or external procedure that they wish us to implement on a programme they are funding. These cases will be dealt with on an individual basis and be reflected in the funding / contracting arrangement.

4) Sign up procedure

Any person wishing to access a Singing Mamas service must first complete a short registration form which:

• Confirms their eligibility for the programme

• Shares their name, address and telephone number

• Shares the name and age of any child(ren) that will attend with them

• Details any access needs / reasonable adjustments required

• Provides an emergency & crisis contact

• Confirms they agree to the group guidelines or code of conduct

Registration forms will usually be completed online, though forms may be completed in-person where needed. 

Entry to a group or service will not be possible without registration.

5) Data Protection

This policy runs in tandem with our GDPR policy which outlines our data protection responsibilities in full and includes a table outlining what data is help by who and for how long.

The full policy can be viewed here: https://www.singingmamas.org/GDPR-policy

6) Post-Registration

Following registration the following information will be provided:

• Either a confirmation of successful registration or an explanation detailing why registration could not be completed (i.e – ineligible for the programme or programme full)

• Link to sign up to Singing Mamas HQ communications

7) Roles and responsibilities

 On self-funded programmes the Community Leader or Registered Practitioner who offers the programme is responsible for implementing this policy and the procedures outlined.

On grant-funded programmes Singing Mamas is responsible for ensuring contracted staff implement this policy and the procedures outlined.

Any Community Leader or Registered Practitioner who deliberately or recklessly fails to implement this policy would be in breach of the terms of their licence and may be subject to further investigation.

The Board of Directors are responsible for reviewing this policy annually.

[1] When we talk about ‘women’ we are referring to people who identify as, and have lived experience of being a woman. This includes both women who were born biologically female and trans-women. We also welcome female-bodied non-binary people who are mothers.