Mother touting for work at the school gate [hmm]

[Benefitofthedoubt]

New mum at school. She’s some sort of counsellor or something, maybe used to be a doctor. (I couldn’t really hear what she was saying because she stopped to talk whilst we were trying to cross a busy road!)

Anyway, at least three of us now have been informed by her that if we ever need to talk she is a counsellor or psychosomething and would be willing to take us on as clients.

This is odd isn’t it? We’ve never experienced this sort of thing before. I mean we’re there to pick up our kids, not because of our mental health. Is this a common thing?

(It’s even odder because many of us are friendly after being together through Reception but she is acting as we don’t know each other. I mean she mentioned that a particular woman looked as if she wasn’t coping... that was my best friend! She copes fine!)

@Benefitofthedoubt

OMG no WAY. This is waaaay too 'familiar!'

Our doctors surgery won't even allow employees to work there who live less than 5 miles away (because of the chance they may know people registered there..)

As if you would want 'counselling' and to bear your soul/give intimate info out, to some bloody random who has just appeared as a mum at the school gates. Fuck that!

Look her up. Don't be afraid to tell her that soliciting for that kind of 'business' without a licence is not on. Impersonating certain healthcare or allied specialties if she isn't licensed is illegal.

www.hcpc-uk.org/about-us/who-we-regulate/the-professions/
Click on 'practitioner psychologists' for a detailed breakdown of protected specialties and a register you can use to check accreditation.

You should approach the school governors about a big No Solicitation sign at the school gates.

but pretty sure our HT would go out and have a word, if it happened close enough to school here

Every HT I've ever worked with would have appreciated a heads up about this - it will cause a nightmare amongst parents when it goes tits up (which it will given she's already commenting on someone supposedly not coping).

Got her name and she’s not on that list mathanxiety.

Where else should I try?

I googled her, nothing.

Not on the BACP register either.

Ask her for her qualifications/ registration. If she has the nerve to tout for clients you can certainly ask for her professional status.

Not on NCS or GMC registers

Where else can I check the doctor claim?

Pity she wasn’t touting for an ironing or cleaning service . Her “books” would have been filled within 20 minutes round here!

HerkyBaby

Same here.

But she doesn’t exist!

I’m beginning to think she may have a problem herself. I mean even if she was a therapist of some sort, you’d think she’d have a presence on the internet

Totally unprofessional but not massively uncommon.
On the day of my grandmother's funeral an acquaintance of my aunt (this being her mothers funeral) text to say she was a grief counsellor and she was available to treat any of the family who needed help.
It was really disrespectful and rude. Needless to say none of the family took her up on the offer.

Harriett123 That’s horrible.

I'm going to set up a private sti testing clinic and pass out business cards to the parents at kids parties

Got an itch?
I'm your bitch

What could possibly go wrong?

Bizarre, I was expecting some kind of Avon or MLM nonsense.

An ethical counsellor wouldn't recruit this way or have a dual relationship.

The fact she used to be a Dr is also weird, why would she be recruiting at school gates?

I would get a hold of a business card and find out what she is actually offering before coming back here to report.

I'm a sports Practitioner. If anyone looked me up online, they would see my credentials, my qualifications and the fact that I belonged to a governing body that regulates my profession. It's the same body that I have 4 million pounds worth of insurance with. I would never even mention, never mind scout for business at the school gate.

Think I’ll set up a honey trap agency...

HoneyandSpice

Exactly

That's really unethical. Even if she was qualified she shouldn't take clients she has a personal connection with through the school, let alone be touting for their business or gossiping about how some are coping.