Do you understand how risk assessment processes can support individuals to make their own decisions?
A risk assessment enables you to identify sensible measures to control risks. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that there are 5 steps to a risk assessment. If a new activity is going to be introduced, you must complete the five steps of risk assessment first:
Risk assessment
Five steps of risk assessment
Summary
This will give you the basics.
Individuals have the right to make their own decisions.
Here are some examples of how the risk assessment process can be used to support individuals to make their own decisions.
Mr Adams always goes for a morning walk outside and around the residential home he lives in. He wants to walk every day to keep fit.
Mr Adams is mentally alert and needs a walking frame to support him.
Today it is icy and you are concerned Mr Adams may fall as he walks down the slope to the rear of the building.
Let’s look at the risk assessment process…
In this scenario, Mr Adams was supported to make an informed choice.
Let’s look at another…
Jenny likes her food. She is in her early twenties and has learning difficulties.
You have noticed that Jenny is putting on a lot of weight and when you are helping her to change her bed, you see a secret supply of chocolate.
Jenny is happy to tell you that it is hers and she enjoys eating chocolate at night when nobody is around.
Jenny was supported to make an informed choice. There are ongoing risks to her health that she may need support with.
Using the agreed risk assessment process enables you to identify risks and make the individual aware of these risks and how they can be reduced.
By doing this, you are supporting the right of individuals to make their own (informed) decision, making them feel valued and respected.
A person can choose to take risks unless there is a serious danger of harm to themselves or to another person, like you. You must not do something if there is a serious risk to you.
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