Providing safe and effective services

A safe and effective service means the psychologist: (a) chooses assessments and interventions on the strength of evidence, the case formulation, what the service is for and culturally reflective practice (section 3.1); (b) helps coordinate services and keep them continuous as far as the situation reasonably calls for; (c) knows where their competence ends, practises inside it, and refers on when that serves the client; (d) treats service decisions as shared between psychologist and client, who may bring in associated parties; and (e) respects clients' right to decide for themselves about present and future services.

• Client files showing a documented case formulation and the evidence base for the assessment tools and interventions chosen
• Referral letters for presentations outside the psychologist's area of competence
• Session notes recording decisions agreed with the client and any family member or carer the client chose to involve
• Coordination notes with GPs, psychiatrists or other treating practitioners

• No formulation on file, only session-by-session notes
• Client kept on in an area outside the psychologist's training instead of being referred
• Client preferences and refusals never recorded