Good Practice in Risk Assessment and Management 1

by Ms Hazel Kemshall (Editor), Jacki Pritchard (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781853023385
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	11/01/1995
Series:	Good Practice in Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.13(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Introduction, Hazel Kemshall and Jacki Pritchard. 1 Risking Legal Repercussions, David Carson. 2 Risk Assessment in Child Protection Work, Brian Corby. 3 Children with Disabilities, Philippa Russell. 4 A Framework of Risk Assessment and Management for Older People, Jane Lawson. 5 Risk and Older People, Rosemary Littlechild and John Blakeney. 6 Risk for Whom? Social Work and People with Physical Disabilities, Liz Ross and Jan Waterson. 7 Risk Management and People with Mental Health Problems, Tony Ryan. 8 Risk Work and Mental Health, Ann Davis. 9 Facts, Fantasies and Confusion; Risks and Substance Use, Ronno Griffiths and Jan Waterson. 10 Offender Risk and Probation Practice, Hazel Kemshall. 11 Sex Offender Risk Assessment, Sue McEwan and Joe Sullivan. 12 Violence and Aggression to Social Work and Social Care Staff, Brian Littlechild. 13 Applying Risk in Practice: Case Studies and Training Material, Avril Aust, Hazel Kemshall, Jane Lawson, Sue McEwan and Joe Sullivan, Jacki Pritchard, Tony Ryan.

Editorial Reviews

Here we have a very handy protection kit dedicated "To all the practitioners who run the risk". The book is a series of essays that cover social work in all settings; child care, mental illness, drug use, offending and sex offending. The book opens with a helpful chapter on legal repurcussions and ends, appropriately, with one of the best contributions by Brian Littlechild on the risk of violence and aggression to staff...this is an excellent book and essential reading irrespective of the social climate.

Criminal Justice (The Magazine of the Howard League)

This book will be of interest to all those working in social care who are concerned with the assessment and management of calculated chances.

Therapeutic Care and Education

In this handy collection of articles by academics, trainers and care professionals, the editors argue that risk is a complex practice and policy issue but little practical guidance and training is on offer... A much needed addition to the patchy body literature on risk.

Journal of Clinical Practice

This book is interesting and valuable to me as a health professional... The different approaches taken by each author enhance the richness of the book and cover the dilemmas of risk assessment and management in a variety of areas. The book achieves its aim of providing a guide to good practice in risk assessment and risk management.Professionals working directly with clients will find specific chapters on thier area, but may well benefit from looking through other chapters to help develop good practice by drawing on a range of theoretical frameworks and other examples. Managers in health and social services will also find this book useful... To date this is the most comprehensive and useful book on risk assessment and risk management and is highly recommended.

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities

The difficulty of balancing the management of risks and the rights of the individuals is tackled with sensitivity and skill...The book is well referenced throughout and should be required reading for practitioners, managers and policy makers.

Therapy Weekly

Contains much material of interest and value... The division of the book into chapters concerning work with particular client groups makes it a useful and accessible source to consult for a succinct overview of current thinking on the subject. The chapters are written by practitioners, lecturers, directors, advisers and trainers.

Journal of Social Work Practice

This book is a rich resource of information, ideas and frameworks for consideration in many areas of risk assessment and management, particularly in relation to issues which may not be at the forefront of the mental health nurse's mind. It also provides a useful insight into how social services see risk issues.

Mental Health Nursing

‘this book does not shirk the ‘big issues' and, by doing so, begins to unfold the complex nature of its subject. To their credit in general, the authors do not lose sight of their portfolio and therefore the body of the text is peppered with case studies and examples of direct work with clients...a book which every practitioner, manager and student should be able to draw from...This work should be viewed as a benchmark from which the concept of risk can be developed through better training both in terms of understanding how we make judgements and the way in which those decisions are then managed.'

Probation Journal

This book offers a practitioner-centered book about controlling the risk or dangers in relation to people who are seen as disabled, disadvantaged and/or deviant. This book will be a valuable addition to the shelves of practitioners, particularly if they take on board the inherent uncertainties of risk and do not search for a perfect system for its assessment or management.

Disability and Society

A guide to risk assessment and management in social work, health care, and probation service, examining key issues and methods of risk definition, measurement, and predictability in social care settings involving child protection, physical disabilities, the elderly, the mentally ill, substance abusers, and sex offenders. Offers guidelines on the risk of violence and aggression to social work and care staff, and emphasizes the relevance of values and attitudes in risk-related decision making. Includes numerous checklists and case studies. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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