About this resource
Decisions about risk should not be made alone. Professional bodies encourage consultation, and a clear log shows who you spoke to, what they advised, what you decided and how you followed up. This running log sits alongside your records of concern and client notes.
Purpose
To show that risk decisions were shared, reasoned and followed up.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Counsellors and therapists. Also relevant for psychologists, social workers, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Adults and young people seeing a counsellor or therapist.
Practice setting: Counselling and therapy services, including private practice, schools and community services.
Suggested uses
- Supervision and peer consultation
- Calls to crisis or child protection services
- Advice from a professional association or insurer
- Tracking follow-up
Instructions for practitioners
- Add an entry each time you seek advice or escalate a concern.
- Use a client ID where possible.
- Record your decision and reasoning, including decisions not to act.
- Review open items in supervision.
Accessibility considerations
Use the person's own words. Offer an interpreter, a support person or a different format where it helps.
Scope and limitations
A record-keeping tool. Follow your organisation's records procedures and keep it securely.
Research basis
Australian privacy law allows personal information to be shared without consent where this is reasonably believed necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to someone's life, health or safety. Professional guidance asks counsellors to keep accurate records, explain the limits of confidentiality and seek advice. Clinical supervision and structured reflection support learning, safe practice and professional development.
- Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic. https://thoughtsmostlyaboutlearning.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/learning-by-doing-graham-gibbs.pdf
- Milne, D. (2007). An empirical definition of clinical supervision. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46(4), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466507x197415
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Australian Privacy Principles guidelines, Chapter C: Permitted general situations. https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/australian-privacy-principles/australian-privacy-principles-guidelines/chapter-c-permitted-general-situations
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. Code of Ethics. https://pacfa.org.au/Portal/Prac-Res/Code-of-Ethics.aspx
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia. Good practice guidelines. https://pacfa.org.au/portal/Portal/Prac-Res/Good-Practice-Guidelines.aspx
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Written for Practitioner Plus from the guidelines and research listed in the research basis; no third-party template was used.
