ACS Crisis Management & Risk Assessment in Supervision Flashcards
6 cards from real ACS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ACS Crisis Management & Risk Assessment in Supervision flashcards as text
When a supervisee reports that a client has expressed suicidal ideation, the ACS supervisor's FIRST responsibility is to:
Answer: Ensure the supervisee has conducted a thorough risk assessment and has a safety plan in place for the client
The supervisor's first obligation is to ensure client safety by confirming that a proper risk assessment has been completed and an appropriate safety plan is in place.
The 'duty to warn' legal standard (arising from Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California) requires that supervisors ensure their supervisees:
Answer: Take steps to protect identifiable third parties when a client makes a credible threat of serious harm
The Tarasoff ruling established that clinicians (and by extension, their supervisors) must take reasonable steps to protect identifiable third parties from credible client threats.
Which mnemonic is MOST commonly used in clinical supervision to help supervisees remember key domains of suicide risk assessment?
Answer: IS PATH WARM
IS PATH WARM (Ideation, Substance use, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness, Mood changes) is a widely used suicide risk assessment mnemonic.
A supervisee calls a supervisor after hours, reporting that a client has left a threatening voicemail saying they plan to harm their ex-partner. The supervisor should FIRST:
Answer: Help the supervisee assess the credibility and imminence of the threat and take appropriate protective action
After-hours crisis calls require the supervisor to actively assist the supervisee in assessing threat credibility and imminence before determining the appropriate course of action.
Supervisor liability in a crisis situation is MOST reduced when the supervisor can demonstrate:
Answer: Documented, timely consultation with the supervisee, clear guidance provided, and a reasonable standard of care was followed
Supervisors reduce liability by documenting their consultations, providing clear and timely guidance, and demonstrating that they exercised reasonable professional judgment.
When preparing supervisees to manage clinical crises, ACS supervisors should ensure that supervisees know:
Answer: The agency's crisis protocols, relevant legal obligations, and how to reach the supervisor in an emergency
Crisis preparation includes ensuring supervisees understand and can implement agency protocols, legal duties, and emergency supervisor contact procedures.