Risk Assessment and Planning

Risk can be broadly defined as 'the probability that an event will occur with beneficial or harmful consequences'.

Risk-sensible not risk-averse practices should be followed when completing any risk assessment so a realistic and proportionate approach to risk is in place which enables young people to grow and learn.

Risk assessments must be in place to support staff and the young person in relation to any identified risks.

Risk assessments are carried out by all agencies involved in Children's Social Care and the young person's social worker should provide the Service with all up-to-date risk assessments relating to the young person they support.

The purpose of any risk assessment should be to reduce harm or the risk of harm and evidence that these risks are now minimised. It should consider all the risks as well as control measures that need to be in place; it should be fit for purpose and consider every issue relevant. It must provide enough information to all relevant people so that they can support the young person safely and appropriately.

Risk assessments are completed in relation to premises, equipment used, risks from other people and activities.

Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each young person and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a young person, their Placement Plan, agreed between the Service and their accommodating authority, must include details of the steps the Service will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis.

Any assessed risks should also be shared with the education provider or service the young person is attending if appropriate, so that the Service is clear on the action they must take if the young person puts themselves at risk while using their service.

Staff should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual needs and involve the young person in these decisions to minimise and support risk taking. Staff should discuss the decision with the young person's accommodating authority where appropriate. If a young person makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe. Please see Mental Capacity Act which looks at the assessment process around decision making. Where a young person runs away persistently or engages in other risky behaviours, such as frequently being absent from the Service to meet with inappropriate adults, the registered person, in consultation with the young person's accommodating authority, should convene a risk management meeting to develop a strategy for managing risks to the young person. The strategy should be agreed with the accommodating authority, the local authority where the Service is located and the local police.

See: Missing Procedure.

Risks can be seen as the following:

• Low - where something may be likely but the consequences are likely not to have a huge impact;
• Moderate - where the consequences may be high but specialist support or skills can mitigate the risk;
• High - where the risk cannot be mitigated.

Control measures take the form of Advice, Protect and Avoid.

• Advice - where skills, appropriate training for staff; supervision and observation can reduce the risks;
• Protect - where specific equipment or specialist expertise can support the situation such as hoists, fire doors, advice in relation to moving and handling, signage;
• Avoid - where the risk cannot be mitigated by advice and protection.

All risk assessments should state what the risk is and how it will be safely managed. All risk assessments should be signed and dated and reviewed when situations change.

Young people who are placed in the Service may have experienced a number of events in their lives which may impact on the level and type of support they require to keep themselves and others safe.

Possession of a risk assessment does not guarantee safety and cannot prevent unpredictable situations. However, a risk assessment can be a useful tool to help prevent a situation occurring. Staff should always seek advice around dangerous behaviours.

See also: Positive Behaviour Support, Contact and Restraint Policy.

All risks should be known before placing a young person.

When social workers complete a Placement Referral form this will include a risk assessment. The risk assessment will inform the placement process and ensure that any risks posed are known and can be managed by the Service. The risk assessment should distinguish between fact and opinion. The risk and frequency of risk should be recorded and how this should be managed in different environments. All known vulnerabilities should be recorded for the young person and set out any actions to address these risks. The Service and staff should feel they can provide the young person with the appropriate level of support and can offer a safe placement.

Risks may come from a variety of sources and there may be external factors to the immediate placement (family/environment, peer relationships, sexual exploitation, county lines). The risk assessment should identify how the young person can be supported in their development around these issues.

The level of risk may change over time and regular review of risk should take place noting how risk has been successfully managed. Staff will make an active contribution to the risk assessment based on their experience of supporting the young person.

Whilst it is important to consider risks that may have been previously identified, caution should be taken in labelling young people and the level of current risk should be continuously assessed.

Changes in risk should be considered as part of ongoing support offered to the young person such as in staff supervision; as part of risk management meetings; and as part of looked after child reviews.

The Service has a responsibility to make sure risk assessments are being followed by staff and that they are up-to-date and updated as and when necessary.

The Placement Plan should consider the risks and how this will be managed for both planned and unplanned placements. Intervention may be necessary by others to keep the young person safe.

Training around how to complete a risk assessment should be in place for staff to aid them in considering how risks and control measures should be addressed.

If a young person moves to another placement the risk assessment should follow them and be updated as appropriate.

Legislation, Statutory Guidance and Government Non-Statutory Guidance

Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked-After Children (Department for Education)