Communication Flashcards
What factors should psychologists incorporate in all communication?
- Clarity
- Accuracy
- Coherence
- Succinctness
- All communication could be a potential legal document
What does the confidential file include?
- Client information
- Nature, delivery, progress, results or recommendations of psychological services
- Diary entries
- Working notes
- Assessment material
What does the client service record include?
- Administrative components
- Dates and times of servics
- Formal correspondence between third parties
- Account information
- Less sensitive information, but still remains confidential
How would you know if a psychologist’s notes were sufficient enough?
- Notes should be sufficient to permit planning for continuity in delivery of psychological services in the event that another psychologist takes over (e.g. due to death, disability or retirement).
- Notes will differentiate between comments originating frm the client, and any opinions and formulations that the practitioner has (i.e. observations and opinions)
When should jargon language be avoided in repor writing?
- When language could be misinterpreted e.g. to insurance companies, lawyers, and judges
- Whereas when writing to doctors, social workers and other health professionals psychological terminology is appropriate
What would a treatment report include for the Court?
- Description of symptoms
- Presentation of the person
- What treatments were conducted
- Providing a diagnosis
- No comments beyond the practitioner’s expertise e.g. psychologists are not commencting on the ultimate issue say of who gets the children our how long the sentence is, but instead are just there to provide another piece of ecidence/information to assist the Judge in that role
Can you change legal reports?
- Yes you can amend psychological repors for the Court for points that are factually incorrect and to clarify points of Law
- You cannot change your opinion at the request of a solicitor
- If changes are made, the date of the report should be updated and a copy of the original repor saved with any explanations as to why the repor was changed
What information is useful to send prior to the appointments commencing?
- Benefits and limitations of therapy for the purpose of informed consent
- Privacy principles for release of information
- Expectations of financial requirements (fees and cancellations)
What is more important, ethics or the Common Law?
The Common Law overrides the ethical guidelines. I.e. Mandatory Reporting overrides confidentiality. Although ethically we have a duty to inform clients if their private material is being released or referred to someone.
How can you respond to information requests from individual clients?
- Bring the client into the office and sit with them while they read the material, and if required, discuss waht has been written
- Provide a summary or a copy of that material to the client
- May charge the client a reasonable fee for access to their records, but this must not be excessive
Can you provide client records to couples/group participants?
Only with the consent of all parties who participated.
When may psychologists refuse access to records by the court/law?
- When access would pose a serious and imminent threat to the life or health of any individual
- When access would have an unreasonable impact on privacy of others
- The request for access if frivolous or vaxatious
- Providing access would prejudice an investigation of possible unlawful activity or prejudice the investigation by an enforcement body
How should records by stored?
Records must be stored securely to prevent loss, misuse, ensure confidentiality and prevent access from those other than the psychologist:
- Paper records = locked cabinet
- Electronic records = password protected and screens only able to be viewed by the psychologist
