Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Page 122

Risk Assessment

Social workers are also expected to balance rights and responsibilities in
relation to risk; to regularly re-assess risk; to recognise the risks to their
clients, significant others, their colleagues and themselves; and to work within
the risk assessment procedures of their organisation and the profession.

Involvement of clients in risk management
Most of the time, risk assessment and its management are discussed by
caseworkers and service providers. The views of service users (including
carers) and their involvement are generally not actively sought in discussing
the risk issues. Yet their role in taking and managing risks on a day to day
basis can be important.

Framework for risk assessment
Risk assessment is not taught widely and there is an increasing realisation that
using a framework can be useful. It starts with the context of assessment and
knowing what the purpose of the assessment is. For example, it is important
to consider if the assessment is taking place in the context of legislation, a
legal framework or policy intent. This then determines the identification and
management of risk.
So the objective of each framework is different and the nature of the risks
that are of concern will be different too. The frameworks for the assessment
of children, families or vulnerable adults would address client vulnerability
and the avoidance of significant harm while in the case of older persons, the
framework for assessment would address the loss of independence.
What is important to remember is that the assessment of carers must focus on
the risk of the breakdown of the carer’s role (Crisp et al, 2005, p 47). Reviews
of serious incidents often show these learning points. Firstly, risks need to
be monitored after risk assessment is made as situations and circumstances
especially of vulnerable clients can be very changeable. In the situation where
a carer is a key factor in moderating a risk, the breakdown or the instability in

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