"Risk Assessment is a constant concern for those charged with protecting children and this comprehensive work addresses the topic from various perspectives. The book consists of 18 chapters written by 17 authors and divided into two main sections: contextual and operational considerations. The nine devoted to contextual considerations address issues such as 'professional dangerousness', working with thresholds and the language of child protection. The eight remaining chapters relate closely to practice, examining the risk in assessments and presenting assessment methods and tools that practitioners will find both thought provoking and helpful in undertaking this difficult work. Practitioners engaged in risk assessment will find this book comprehensive but the range of material presented combined with the complex subject matter does not make it an easy read. However, this work has so much to offer the practitioner that it is well worth the offer." --Community Care.
"An absorbing and exciting read, during which safeguarding professionals will find themselves saying "that's exactly what's been worrying me" and "I've often wondered about that"... comprehensive, detailed and well written, it addresses the core issue for professionals with responsibility for safeguarding children: assessing as accurately as possible the probability of a child being harmed. A broad perspective of thinking about risk and the challenge of interpreting information gathered from and about children's lives... a good reference guide... extremely useful... provides excellent material for multi-agency safeguarding children trainers." --Children and Young People Now
"Contains some gems that will be a real boon to practice, such as Chris Beckett's contribution on 'Pyramids of Risk' which appear to provide a way to help merge the actuarial and clinical aspects of assessment. As well as the book's accessibility I also found very attractive the debate that is played out through the articles. Martin Calder says the reader will see a house being built as they read the book. Indeed, but it is a house of debate, especially on the issue of whether we, as a community are gathering too much information, or not enough. The theme is not resolved but it's all there for the reader to judge, like tablets of wisdom set as a feast before you." --Professional Social Work
"Provides a lot of information and challenges to all those involved in safeguarding children. The topics are well presented and can be read in chapters or as a whole... a useful training resource. I would also recommend it to more experienced practitioners. I found myself reading parts of the book and stopping to reflect on how it related to my own practice and the systems in which I work... a range of options that can be considered in specific situations. It is well considered and I've already used some of the material in day-to-day practice... stimulates discussion and would be useful addition to reading lists for students in all sectors working with risk and child welfare." --Rostrum
"The authors call for an evidence-based, comprehensive and equitable approach to risk assessment and teach the reader to produce risk management strategies where levels of intrusion are commensurate with levels of risk; and consider the possibility of developing a common language to assist this important task. Topics covered include: clearly explaining the concept of risk and risk assessment; exploring the key areas where risks need to be assessed; summarising relevant research and practice wisdom; and examining dilemmas in the daily decision-making of staff and managers." --ChildRIGHT
For anyone involved in the protection and safeguarding of children and young people - at any level - risk and risk assessment are key concerns and preoccupations. Decisions are made every day: some without full evaluation; some after evaluation delineates professional dilemmas over how best to balance unnecessary or excessive risks with being too timid about seizing opportunities that may produce better outcomes. Yet, across and within the various professional groups involved in safeguarding children, there is an inadequate knowledge base to inform practice, no standardized definition of risk or risk assessment, and no guidance from official sources. There is not even a shared agreement on whether risk means only the possibility of harmful outcomes, a balancing of possible good and possible harm, or whether it even includes the idea of positive events.This context reflects both the importance of different agencies - with different imperatives - being involved, and the practical difficulty of eliminating uncertainty.
But this book's varied and illuminating perspectives can help refine the exercise of professional judgement in estimating and managing uncertainties prospectively, rather than being judged retrospectively with the benefit of hindsight. They can help us to learn how to improve our conduct of risk assessments so that they are evidence-based, comprehensive and equitable; how to produce risk management strategies where levels of intrusion are commensurate with levels of risk; and consider the possibility of developing a common language to assist this important task. Reflecting the importance of inter-agency approaches in policy, practice and training, the chapters are drawn from a number of different professional groups and disciplines, and should be of value to each of them.For staff in the social care and criminal fields, psychologists, counsellors, as well as trainers, researchers, policy-makers and students on many courses this book attempts to: clearly explain the concept of risk and risk assessment; explore the key areas where risks need to be assessed; summarize relevant research and practice wisdom; examine dilemmas in the daily decision-making of staff and managers; consider how managers and staff, acting without local or national guidance, are inevitably inconsistent in their approaches and decision making; and, examine actuarial risk tools alongside clinical judgment, and the tension and confusion caused by different professionals talking at cross purposes.
This book also attempts to: explore assessment in an accessible manner with a practice-based emphasis; review the origins and contemporary features of professional and organisational dangerousness, and suggest antidotes; examine the links between strengths (needs)-led and risk assessment practice; consider ways of engaging service users in risk assessment and management; consider emerging dilemmas associated with rights, protection and responsibilities; and, offer some contemporary risk assessment frameworks.The emergence and ongoing development of safeguarding, which unifies preventative and protective structures and systems, and people at all levels of safeguarding responsibility will find benefit in considering the messages within this book when constructing their policies, procedures and practice guidance in relation to risk assessment across all the agencies serving children.