Independence, choice and risk: a
guide to best practice in supported
decision making
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The Vision
People have the right to live their lives to the
full as long as that doesn’t stop others from
doing the same.
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The Drivers:
Green Paper to White Paper
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Independence, Wellbeing and Choice
our health, our care,
our say
Consulted on what
was the right
balance in
managing risks
Made a
commitment to
develop a national
approach to risk in
social care
Key Messages: The principles
 To help people to have choice and control
over their lives
 To recognise that making a choice can
involve some risk
 To respect people’s rights and those of their
family/carers
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Key Messages: The principles



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To help people understand their
responsibilities and the implications of their
choices, including any risks.
To acknowledge that there will always be
some risk, and that trying to remove it
altogether can outweigh the quality of life
benefits for the person.
To never expose people to an unreasonable
level of risk
Key Messages:
Good practice should focus on:
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
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Establishing the person’s needs, wishes and
life style choices using any communication
aids necessary
Promoting the use of advocacy to ensure the
person’s interests and rights are protected
Always considering the person’s choices,
even where the risks cannot be totally
eliminated
Key Messages:
Good practice should focus on:
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
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Ensuring support is designed to allow the
individual’s choices to be paramount, whilst
managing those risks which can be managed
Acknowledging and recording any risks and
their management in whichever setting the
person is in
Carers’ needs and wishes must be
acknowledged, and any conflict of wishes
must support the rights of all involved
Key Messages: Organisations
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To ensure processes for complex risk
decision making are in place and supported
by senior staff: Risk Enablement Panel
Use of supported decision tool
To establish a choice, empowerment and risk
policy that promotes more open and
transparent practices - shared across partner
organisations.
London Borough Newham:
Risk Enablement Panel: Aims
I
• To share risk decision making where
there are concerns about managing the
level of risk.
• To provide support, guidance and
direction to staff, including conflict
resolution
London Borough Newham:
Risk Enablement Panel: Objectives
•To provide consistency
•To improve the management of risk decisionmaking-including a focus on the risk to maintaining
independence
• To share the responsibility for the management of
complex risk cases
• To develop the learning and disseminate through
existing communication mechanisms
London Borough Newham Risk
Enablement Panel: Accountability

Panel Chair : Safeguarding Adults Manager
Accountable to:
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Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board

Self Directed Support Steering Group.
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Contact details

caroline.godleman@newham.gov.uk

karen.bohan@newham.gov.uk
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