Workshop AWorkshop ARisk & Risk AssessmentRisk & Risk Assessment

Working in the communityWorking in the community

Gogarty ConsultancyProviding Social Work, Training and Consultancy Services087 2673263jimjo@iolfree.ie

National Conference 2006

Overview of the WorkshopOverview of the Workshop

OverviewOverview

• Broadening DefinitionsBroadening Definitions

• Current ExperiencesCurrent Experiences

• ValuesValues

• Dilemmas and ConflictsDilemmas and Conflicts

• Legal Perspective Legal Perspective

• Risk and Risk AssessmentRisk and Risk Assessment

Briefly, just to mention…Briefly, just to mention…’Ground Rules’’Ground Rules’

What What Ground Rules will we commit to for will we commit to for the duration of the session?the duration of the session?

Can I suggest…Can I suggest…

Safe EnvironmentSafe Environment

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

Expectations and HopesExpectations and Hopes

• What difference do What difference do you want the you want the Session to make to Session to make to you?you?

• What do you hope What do you hope to see discussed?to see discussed?

Risk – A DefinitionRisk – A Definition

• The possibility of suffering harm or The possibility of suffering harm or loss; dangerloss; danger

• A factor, thing, element, or course A factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger; a hazardinvolving uncertain danger; a hazard

(Clancy,F 2006)(Clancy,F 2006)

Current ExperiencesCurrent Experiences

Some samples of Some samples of current current experiences experiences particularly in particularly in terms of dilemmas terms of dilemmas related to risk and related to risk and choice…choice…

Values and Self AwarenessValues and Self Awareness

Why is it important Why is it important to have good self to have good self awareness?awareness?

Because it tells us Because it tells us what we really what we really believe in and what believe in and what our attitudes really our attitudes really are!are!

ValuesValues

Developing self-awareness helps to Developing self-awareness helps to identify our own values, attitudes & identify our own values, attitudes & prejudicesprejudices

Consider if you hold any views that might Consider if you hold any views that might affect affect how you work with an individual… how you work with an individual…

Is there anything Is there anything ‘different’‘different’ about the people you provide a about the people you provide a service to?service to?

Consider:Consider:

• Do we hold perceptions or views which see the Do we hold perceptions or views which see the people you provide a service to as ‘people you provide a service to as ‘different’different’ in in any way? any way?

• Have you encountered such views/perceptions for Have you encountered such views/perceptions for any of the people you provide a service to?any of the people you provide a service to?

Think about the following...Think about the following...

What do you believe is the public or What do you believe is the public or potential employer’s perception of the potential employer’s perception of the people that you provide a service to?people that you provide a service to?

What language/names/terminology have What language/names/terminology have you heard used to describe the people that you heard used to describe the people that you provide a service to?you provide a service to?

And how are you viewed as staff members? And how are you viewed as staff members?

Think about the following...Think about the following...

Is it important to ask ourselves the Is it important to ask ourselves the question….question….

Do we do anything to encourage any Do we do anything to encourage any of these perceptions? of these perceptions?

Values and Employment Values and Employment OpportunitiesOpportunities

What are the type of issues that pose challenges and/or dilemmas?

How do you deal with these?

Relating values for practice Relating values for practice principles to Employment…principles to Employment…

• Dignity Dignity

• RespectRespect

• IntegrationIntegration

• ChoiceChoice

• RelationshipsRelationships

• IndividualityIndividuality

Legal PerspectiveLegal Perspective

Duty of Care Duty of Care

Staff have responsibility at all times Staff have responsibility at all times to practice the principles of doing to practice the principles of doing good and preventing harmgood and preventing harm

What sort of difficulties or dilemmas What sort of difficulties or dilemmas can this pose?can this pose?

Legal PerspectiveLegal Perspective

Adhoc, inconsistent or poor practice may raise issues around negligence

Ensure that you are clear about the approach you use - is it good practice? can you justify it?

Every practice response should reflect the situation and be customised accordingly

Planning and RiskPlanning and Risk

Planning is a natural process for most Planning is a natural process for most people and we all plan for the future people and we all plan for the future in different ways. Some people like to in different ways. Some people like to take each day as it comes and take take each day as it comes and take opportunities as they arise, others opportunities as they arise, others have clear plans and goals of what have clear plans and goals of what they would like to achieve by a they would like to achieve by a particular time in their lives… particular time in their lives…

Planning and RiskPlanning and Risk

Many people with disabilities have to Many people with disabilities have to rely heavily on services and often do rely heavily on services and often do not have the same freedom/choices not have the same freedom/choices as others. as others.

Why consider Risk Why consider Risk Assessment?Assessment?Any ideas?Any ideas?

Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Allen Allen (2002)(2002)

Elements of risk:Elements of risk:

1.1.Risk from selfRisk from self

2.2.Risk from othersRisk from others

3.3.Risk to carersRisk to carers

4.4.Risk from the community / neighbourhoodRisk from the community / neighbourhood

Why Risk Assessment?Why Risk Assessment?

Protection and safety of the individual

Protection and safety of stakeholders, i.e. family, staff, community, public

Minimising or reducing risk

Why Risk Assessment?Why Risk Assessment?

Minimising litigation risks

Continous care and support

Continued provision of service in desired environment

Risk Assessment Model Risk Assessment Model (Allen (Allen 2002)2002)

• Specify the concern

• Specify who might be at risk

• Specify what primary preventative strategies should be employed

• Clearly describe the early behavioural indicators that the person may be losing self-control/at risk

Risk Assessment Model Risk Assessment Model (Allen (Allen 2002)2002)

• Specify how plans should be recorded and reviewed

• Record Agreement with the Plan

• Specify a Review Date

• Specify how the risk management plan will be used to support access to employment

ConclusionConclusion

Thank YouThank You