NPE Risk Assessment and Management Questions and Answers

Question 1

A psychologist is treating a 28-year-old client who expresses passive suicidal ideation with feelings of hopelessness, but denies any specific plan or intent.
The client explicitly refuses to give consent for the psychologist to contact their GP or emergency contact.
What is the psychologist's most critical immediate responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to determine the level of imminent risk.

Answer

Immediately contact the client's emergency contact to ensure safety, despite the client's refusal.

Answer

Respect the client's autonomy and decision, and document the refusal to consent.

Answer

Terminate the session and provide the client with contact details for a crisis hotline.

Question 2

In the context of a violence risk assessment, which of the following is considered a dynamic risk factor?

Accepted Answer

Current problematic substance use.

Answer

A documented history of violent offending.

Answer

The individual's chronological age.

Answer

A diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder.

Question 3

A client discloses a credible and specific threat to cause serious physical harm to their former partner. The client appears highly agitated and has access to means. According to the APS Code of Ethics, what is the psychologist's most appropriate initial action?

Accepted Answer

Consult with a senior colleague or supervisor and consider notifying the police or the potential victim.

Answer

Focus the session on anger management techniques to de-escalate the client's current state.

Answer

Maintain strict confidentiality as a therapeutic alliance is paramount to treatment.

Answer

Immediately attempt to contact the former partner directly to warn them of the threat.

Question 4

A psychologist is treating a 14-year-old client who reveals that their parent frequently leaves them and their 7-year-old sibling unsupervised for entire weekends. The client expresses fear of being placed in foster care if this is reported. What is the psychologist's primary obligation?

Accepted Answer

Report the suspected neglect to the relevant state or territory child protection authority.

Answer

Agree not to report at this time to preserve the therapeutic relationship.

Answer

Insist that the parent attend the next session to address the issue directly.

Answer

Develop a safety plan with the 14-year-old to use during the unsupervised weekends.

Question 5

Which of the following is the most effective proactive strategy for a psychologist to manage the professional risks associated with maintaining a caseload of high-risk clients (e.g., those with chronic suicidality or histories of violence)?

Accepted Answer

Engaging in regular, documented professional supervision.

Answer

Maintaining comprehensive professional indemnity insurance.

Answer

Relying solely on validated psychometric risk assessment tools.

Answer

Avoiding dual relationships with all clients and associated parties.

Question 6

When formulating a risk management plan for a client, what is the primary purpose of identifying and documenting the client's protective factors?

Accepted Answer

To identify client strengths and supports that can be leveraged to mitigate risk.

Answer

To fulfil a mandatory documentation requirement for auditing purposes.

Answer

To determine if the client's risk is serious enough to warrant involuntary treatment.

Answer

To justify a decision to not implement a safety plan.