Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Page 123

Risk Assessment

the carer’s role can raise a risk significantly. Another common risk moderating
factor that can change quite easily is the physical separation of a perpetrator
and a victim or vulnerable person which lowers a risk. This risk can however
escalate very quickly when both are together again without supervision and
when the trigger that caused the risk has resurfaced. Secondly, a deterioration
or relapse in the mental or physical condition of a client can put the person
at higher risk.
Sometimes the presence of alternate supplementary caregivers in the form
of a grandparent could give the impression that there were fewer child risk
issues. It is nevertheless useful to bear in mind that when there is an adult with
a mental health condition, the family’s circumstances should be monitored
as changes could give rise to stressors or relapses. There is also a need to
monitor both the adult’s and the family’s coping abilities especially when
there is a child with special needs involved.

Reflecting on risk assessment
Risk should be at the core of assessment. And the extent of attention we
should give to it would depend on the purpose of an assessment. As risk is
based on a perspective, what is perceived as a risk is not necessarily always
agreed by all involved with the family or individual. Based on the context of
assessment and being able to have a plan to manage the risk, presupposes
that there needs to be an agreement of what those risks are.
The challenge with risk assessment is that it can cause stress for the
professional especially in situations where there are few options for alternative
placement or support for clients. In some instances, it can also give rise to a
phenomenon called “talking down a problem” to address this dilemma of not
having an alternative. So risk management is not easy and we need to begin
to dig deeper into the “contested” nature of risk assessment, the different
perceptions among different groups about risk and what the approach to risk
management might be.
22nd December 2014
122