Good Practice in Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Providing a complete guide to good practice for those involved in risk assessment and management, this book is the first to bring together the key issues involved, and examine them in the context of wide range of social care settings. Using examples of practice with different client groups, the book addresses such questions as: how is risk defined in a particular work setting? how accurately can risk be predicted? what are the important features of risk? how do you balance the management of risks and the rights of individuals?

With its strong emphasis on practice, the book examines the key issues and methods of risk measurement, predictability and management, drawing upon the experience of the contributors in a wide variety of social care settings...such as child protection, disability, work with older people, mental health, offenders, and drug addiction. It will be of use to practitioners, managers, trainers, policy makers and students.

Jacki Pritchard is a qualified social worker who has worked as a practitioner and manager in both fieldwork and hospital settings. She is currently working as a trainer, consultant and researcher focusing on abuse, risk and violence. Her previous publications include Good Practice in Child Protection and Good Practice in Supervision. Hazel Kemshall is currently Professor of Community and Criminal Justice at DeMontfort University. She was previously a senior lecturer at Birmingham University and has practice and management experience with the Probation Service. She has written extensively on risk assessment and risk management, and has recently completed research for the Economic and Social Research Council.