Service contacts where care delivery is reviewed and the patient/client is absent, such as case conferences or multidisciplinary reviews, are regarded as individual sessions. The time spent discussing each client should be recorded separately where possible. Where recording of session duration for each client is not possible, the total time for the discussion should be apportioned evenly between the number of clients discussed. For example, for a discussion of one hour, during which 6 clients where discussed, a 10 minute session duration would be recorded for each client.

For group sessions the time for the patient/client in the session is recorded for each patient/client, regardless of the number of patients/clients or third parties participating or the number of service providers providing the service.

Writing up details of service contacts is not to be reported as part of the duration, except if during or contiguous with the period of patient/client or third party participation.

Travel to or from the location at which the service is provided, for example to or from outreach facilities or private homes, is not to be reported as part of the duration of the service contact.

Counting the duration for each patient/client in a group session means that this data element cannot be used to measure the duration of service contacts from the perspective of the service provider.