20 Questions
Which of the following is true about informed consent in psychology?
Therapists must obtain consent from clients before conducting any activities.
Match the following principles with their correct descriptions in the context of informed consent:
Therapists should ensure that the client has all the information necessary to make an informed decision about whether to take part or not in a psychological activity = Principle of providing relevant information Therapists should consider providing information about what the psychological activity involves and its benefits = Principle of providing information about the activity Therapists should discuss and agree how the child or young person will be kept safe = Principle of ensuring the child's safety in the informed consent process with children and young people Therapists should make a judgment about a client's ability to give informed consent = Principle of assessing the client's capacity to give consent
True or false: Informed consent is about the client's right to choose whether to receive psychological services.
True
Match the following statements about informed consent with their correct descriptions:
Informed consent is about the client's right to choose whether to receive psychological services = Definition of informed consent Therapists should ensure that they have sought and received the consent of the client in an appropriate manner prior to undertaking any assessment, intervention or research activities = Therapist's responsibility for obtaining consent Therapists should make a judgment about a client's ability to give informed consent based on their understanding, retention, and ability to communicate their decision = Determining a client's capacity to give informed consent Therapists should provide information about the benefits and potential risks of engaging or not engaging in a proposed psychological activity = Information to be provided to the client for informed consent
What do therapists need to do if a client desires help and their immediate impact may affect the client's ability to make informed choices?
Seek and receive the client's consent in an appropriate manner
True or false: Informed consent applies only to therapists working in the public sector.
False
Match the following considerations with the appropriate context of obtaining informed consent:
Therapists should discuss and agree how information is recorded and possibly shared with others with - young people are 'Gillick competent' can consent to information not being shared with parents = Informed consent with children and young people Therapists should ensure that the child or young person has understood the therapist's role = Informed consent with children and young people Therapists should consider the complexities of obtaining informed consent to treatment due to the perceived power, status and authority of the professional psychologist = Informed consent with people who may lack capacity Therapists should ensure their practice acknowledges and respects the culture, community and context of the child or young person = Informed consent with children and young people
What should therapists discuss with children and young people during the informed consent process?
The child's views and involvement in decision-making
What should therapists ensure when obtaining informed consent with children and young people?
The child fully understands the therapist's role
What should therapists consider when obtaining informed consent in psychology?
The client's right to choose
True or false: All children and young people have the right to express their views freely and be involved in decision-making that affects their lives.
True
True or false: Therapists should provide information about the benefits and potential risks of engaging or not engaging in a proposed psychological activity.
True
What should therapists discuss and agree upon with children and young people during the informed consent process?
The therapist's role
What should therapists consider when obtaining informed consent to treatment?
The client's personal circumstances
Who should therapists consider when providing information about the benefits and risks of a psychological activity?
The client
Match the following elements to their related aspects of informed consent:
The client's right to withdraw their consent from assessment, treatment or intervention at any stage = Client's right in the informed consent process Understanding the information relevant to the decision = Ability required for giving informed consent Therapists should be aware that their own desires to help a client may bias their presentation of information = Potential bias in the informed consent process Therapists should provide an accessible explanation to the child or young person about their work = Therapist's responsibility in the informed consent process with children and young people
What should therapists ensure when providing information to clients for informed consent?
The information is presented in a format that meets the client's specific needs
What should therapists consider when obtaining informed consent from people who may lack capacity?
The person's ability to communicate their decision
True or false: Therapists should make a judgment about a client's ability to give informed consent based on their understanding, retention, and ability to communicate their decision.
True
Match the following actions with the appropriate party involved in the informed consent process:
Therapists should provide an opportunity for the child to talk about what working with the therapist might involve = Therapist's responsibility in the informed consent process with children and young people Therapists should ensure that they have sought and received the consent of the client in an appropriate manner prior to undertaking any assessment, intervention or research activities = Therapist's responsibility in obtaining informed consent Therapists should make a judgment about a client's ability to give informed consent = Therapist's role in assessing a client's capacity to give consent Therapists should ensure that the child or young person has understood the therapist's role = Therapist's responsibility in the informed consent process with children and young people
Study Notes
British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of Conduct
- The BPS sets and upholds high standards of professionalism and promotes ethical behavior, attitudes, and judgments for psychologists.
- The BPS Code of Conduct provides a framework for guiding decision-making for all psychologists.
Ethical Principles
- Respect: value the dignity and worth of all persons, with sensitivity to dynamics of perceived authority or influence and regarding people's rights.
- Competence: value the continuing development and maintenance of high standards of competence in professional work, and the importance of working within recognized limits of knowledge, skill, training, education, and experience.
- Responsibility: value responsibilities to persons, the general public, and the profession and science of psychology, including avoiding harm and preventing misuse or abuse of contributions to society.
- Integrity: value honesty, probity, accuracy, clarity, and fairness in interactions with all persons, and seek to promote integrity in all aspects of scientific and professional endeavors.
Ethical Reasoning
- Ethical reasoning is subject to various competing biases.
- Maintaining awareness of these biases is important when trying to think through ethical challenges.
Legal and Professional Obligations
- Psychologists' professional practice is impacted by legislation and regulation.
- Therapists must ensure they are aware of legislation and guidelines governing their area of practice and terms of employment or contracted services.
- Important examples to note:
- Professional competence: maintaining high standards of competence in practice, within recognized limits of knowledge, skill, training, education, and experience.
- Professional indemnity insurance: mandatory for health professionals in the UK.
- Equality Act 2010: protects people against unfair treatment, promotes equality, and prevents discrimination against nine protected characteristics.
- Data Protection Act 1998: provides public access to information held by public authorities, with certain exceptions.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005: framework for capacity and consent for individuals aged 16 and above in England and Wales.
- Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007): allows compulsory action for people with mental disorders to receive necessary care and treatment.
Safeguarding
- Safeguarding means protecting people's health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect.
- Abuse takes many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, financial, and institutional abuse, and neglect.
Safeguarding Children
- Working Together to Safeguard Children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
- Key principles:
- Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
- Safeguarding requires a child-centred approach based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.
- Therapists should:
- Be alert for early intervention support for children with disabilities, additional needs, or those showing signs of abuse or neglect.
- Be aware of heightened vulnerability in children with family circumstances presenting challenges.
- Recognize the potential impacts of parental/carer ill-health on the family.
Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Harm
- The Care Act 2014 brought in new legislation regarding the safeguarding of all vulnerable adults.
- An adult at risk of harm is a person aged 18 or over with a need for care or support, who is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and unable to protect themselves.### Safeguarding and Ethics
- An adult at risk of harm is a person aged 18 or over with need for care or support, who is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of their needs is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
- Safeguarding adults means protecting the rights of adults to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
Informed Consent
- Informed consent relates to the client's right to choose whether to receive psychological services, and to make this choice on the basis of the best information available.
- Therapists should ensure that they have sought and received the consent of the client in an appropriate manner prior to undertaking any assessment, intervention, or research activities.
- Informed consent involves providing the client with relevant information about the psychological activity, including benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Informed Consent with Children and Young People
- All children and young people have a right to express their views freely and be involved in any decision-making that affects their lives.
- Therapists must gain the informed consent of children and young people, taking into account their evolving capabilities and supporting their exercise of rights.
- Therapists should provide an accessible explanation, discuss how information will be recorded and shared, and ensure the child's safety and understanding.
Informed Consent with People Who May Lack Capacity
- Therapists must make a judgment about a client's ability to give informed consent, considering their ability to understand, retain, and communicate information.
- The Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice highlights the need to assist clients in making decisions, using tools such as memory aids and simplified resources.
BPS Code of Conduct
- The BPS Code of Conduct provides a framework for guiding decision-making, with four ethical principles:
- Respect for the dignity of persons and peoples
- Competence in providing services
- Responsibility to persons, the public, and the profession
- Integrity in actions and interactions
Legal and Professional Obligations
- Psychologists must be aware of legislation and guidelines governing their practice, including the Equality Act 2010, Data Protection Act 1998, and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Professional indemnity insurance is mandatory for health professionals in the UK.
- Psychologists must also consider membership of a union or similar body for representation and legal advice.
Safeguarding and Ethical Autobiography
- Safeguarding means protecting people's health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect.
- Therapists should reflect on how they have implemented ethical guidelines in their clinical practice, considering their own biases and cultural perspectives.
Safeguarding Children and Adults
- Safeguarding children involves working together to protect them from harm, abuse, and neglect, with a child-centred approach.
- Safeguarding adults involves protecting their rights to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect, with consideration for their needs and vulnerabilities.
- Therapists should be aware of situations of risk, including sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and internet abuse.
Quiz: Capacity and Decision Making Test your knowledge on capacity and decision making with this quiz. Explore important principles such as the steps to help someone make a decision, the distinction between unwise decisions and incapacity, and the requirement to act in the best interests of those lacking capacity. Challenge yourself with scenario-based questions to strengthen your understanding of these key concepts.
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