Question

A social worker is measuring the effectiveness of services offered to chronically mentally ill clients at a community clinic. When developing the informed consent for the effectiveness

study, the social worker is concerned about the clients' level of competency, which often varies on a daily basis. What should the social worker do?

Answer 1

The social worker should establish a comprehensive assessment process, develop a flexible informed consent process, and ensure ongoing monitoring of clients' competency levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The social worker should take several steps to address the issue of varying competency levels among chronically mentally ill clients when developing the informed consent for the effectiveness study:

1. Establish a comprehensive assessment process to determine the clients' competency levels on a daily basis. This could involve using standardized assessment tools and regularly evaluating the clients' cognitive functioning.
2. Develop a flexible and adaptive informed consent process that takes into account the clients' fluctuating competency levels. This could include providing simplified explanations, using visual aids, and employing alternative communication methods to ensure comprehension.
3. Ensure ongoing monitoring and re-evaluation of clients' competency throughout the study period. This could involve frequent check-ins, regular communication with the clients' treatment team, and adjustments to the informed consent process as needed.

By implementing these strategies, the social worker can ensure that the informed consent process is tailored to the clients' varying competency levels and respects their right to fully understand and participate in the study.