Technical Competency
Informed Consent
Performance Review
Often performance reviews will be founded both on a job description or Terms of Reference (see the Anchoring section for suggestions) and on annual work plans or objectives (which can include soft skills or values). It is important that concrete criteria and expectations are set. Here is a reminder of the job description/Terms of Reference provisions suggested for this competency:
“Designing the process for, planning, seeking and documenting informed consent from survivors of sexual violence in line with international ethical standards and the Murad Code.”
“Ensuring all project activities including information gathering and use are based on the foundation of express and specific informed consent of survivors in accordance with the Murad Code.”
These could be incorporated into an annual plan or review using the Deep Dive table and a scale such as:
Exceeds Expectations: designs and implements clear survivor-centred informed consent processes with careful measures to reduce impact of power differentials and pressure; proactively anticipates and mitigates risks relating to the voluntariness and comprehension of the consent; actively safeguards that all aspects of project activities (collection, preservation and use of information) are based on specific informed consent; models and mentors others; advocates for careful thoughtful approaches to informed consent processes; monitors ongoing consent and consent processes throughout project.
Meets Expectations: able to design/implement informed consent process which involves a two-way conversation and uses open questions; recognises common risks to voluntariness and comprehension of consent; knows basic adaptations required for persons under 18 or with literacy challenges; responds to feedback to improve or adapt informed consent processes; ensures documentation which reflects consent is keep with the documentation to support use within consent. (See relevant Deep Dive columns.)
Needs Improvement: implements a one way provision of information consent process with a close question for affirmation; uses script or box ticking exercise; uses technical language; cannot adapt to survivor concerns or discomfort; fails to recognise or stop when indicates that consent is not present or there are risks; consent documentation not available to potential information users. (See relevant Deep Dive columns.)
You can choose to focus on specific aspects or tailor the expected behaviours specifically to the job or tasks and include these more specific expectations in an annual work plan or job description.
It is important to include free-narrative boxes for evidence-based assessment and explanations both for a person’s own self-assessment of their work, and for the line-manager’s/supervisor’s constructive comments.