Contemporary risk assessment in safeguarding children - Softcover

Martin C. Calder

9781905541201: Contemporary risk assessment in safeguarding children

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1905541201 ISBN 13: 9781905541201

Publisher: Russell House Publishing, 2008

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. Yet, across and within the various concerned professional groups, there is an inadequate knowledge base to inform practice, no official guidance, not even shared agreement on what risk means. This book s varied and illuminating perspectives help refine the exercise of professional judgement in estimating and managing uncertainties prospectively, rather than being judged retrospectively. They can assist progress towards: risk assessments that are evidence-based, comprehensive, equitable; risk management strategies with levels of intrusion commensurate to levels of risk; greater shared understanding of terminology. They also: � Explain risk and risk assessment concepts � Explore where risks need assessing � Summarise research and practice wisdom � Examine dilemmas in daily decision-making � Accessibly explore assessment in practice � Consider how lack of guidance leads to inconsistency; how differences in approach cause tension and confusion; and how inherent danger in professional and organisational structures can be addressed � Examine links between strengths (needs)-led and risk assessment practice � Consider emerging dilemmas around rights, protection and responsibilities, and ways of engaging service users � Offer some contemporary risk assessment frameworks. CONTENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS: Preface. Introduction. Contextual considerations. From child protection to child safety: locating risk assessment in the changing landscape Roger Smith Challenging output based performance management in child protection John Devaney Reclaiming the language of child protection: mind the gap: family support versus child protection: exposing the myth Liz Davies Risk, uncertainty and thresholds Chris Beckett Professional judgement and the risk assessment process Anne Hollows Professional dangerousness: causes and contemporary features Martin C. Calder Dimensions of risk: professionals tipping the balance? Phillip Heasman Organisational dangerousness: causes, consequences and correctives Martin C. Calder Promoting professional resilience Jo Clarke Operational considerations Strengths-based risk assessments: locating possibility and transforming the paradigm Clay T. Graybeal and Shelley Cohen Konrad Actuarial and clinical risk assessment: contrasts, comparisons and collective usages Hazel Kemshall Risk and child protection Martin C Calder The three houses tool: building safety and positive change Nicki Weld Risk assessment in adult sex offenders Roger Kennington Young people who sexually abuse: risk refinement and conceptual developments Martin C. Calder Risk in treatment: from relapse prevention to wellness Robert E. Longo Cultural considerations within risk assessment Jo Thakker, James Vess and Tony Ward Involuntary clients and risk assessment: contextual mapping to inform practice responses Martin C. Calder

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Review:

"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

Synopsis:

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.

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