Risk Assessment – People with Learning Disabilities

Risk Assessment – People with Learning Disabilities

This 1-day course has been designed to support front line professionals who have a remit for assessing risk faced by Vulnerable Adults, including people with Learning Disabilities. Its aim is to explore the comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management framework. The course incorporates an introduction to the document ‘Independence, Choice and Risk’, Department of Health, 2007.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the course participants should have understood:

• What is meant by:
        - ‘risk assessment’
        - ‘risk management’
• What is meant by:
        - ‘empowerment’
        - ‘protection’
• Why risk needs to be assessed
• What is meant by ‘reasonable risk’
• Why it is important for risk to be taken
• How staff have power and how it can be misused regarding risk taking
• Life is a ‘risky business’ and people have a right to take risk. Should it be any different for people with
Learning Disabilities?
• When risk is unacceptable (including Health and Safety issues)
• What action is appropriate when risk is unacceptable
• Historical attitudes towards risk taking in relation to people with Learning Disabilities
• Current attitudes towards risk-taking and people with Learning Disabilities.
• Risks and decision making processes
• Different and changing levels of ability and the relationship with risk taking
• What is meant by the ‘duty of care’
• The legal requirements regarding risk assessment
• The basic principles of the risk assessment process
• The five steps to risk assessment
• How to fill in the organisation’s documentation
• The necessity to develop risk management plans
• The necessity to maintain a professional, open and flexible approach
• The necessity for on-going risk assessment
• The necessity for regular review
• The communication and reporting systems
• The relationship between risk assessment & care/support plans
• Multi-disciplinary working

Training methods:

• Tutor presentations
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Group work
• Individual exercises
• Case studies
• Word shower
• Handouts

CP185/5.9