Living with Risk in the
Community
Sam Smith
Living with Risk - Research
Perceptions of risk
Risk = Danger
Voice
Harm
reputation
communication
becoming other
abuse
home
resilience and resistance
Living with Risk
C-Change – the organisation
People
Risk
Multi agency working
Living with Risk
‘To live in the
universe of high
modernity is to live
in an of environment
of chance and risk’
Giddens 1991,109
Living with Risk
A life worth living
Person centred
The person is more than the label
No naiveté
Living with Risk
‘assessment is inherently subjective
and that understanding judgemental
limitations is crucial to effective decision
making’
Slovic, Fischoff and Lichtenstein (1982, 464)
Living with Risk
Risk assessment and
risk management are
active ongoing
processes not
discreet actions or
tasks.
Living with Risk
Identify predictable risk
Devise scenario based risk management
strategies
• Background
• Preventative measures
• Scenario
• Follow up
Living with Risk
Living with Risk - Z
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Background
When using public transport there have been a number of incidents
when Z has encroached upon the personal space of members of the
public and/or has been staring in manner that caused members of the
public discomfort and/or distress.
Preventative Measures
• Where possible avoid busy buses/trains
• Avoid trains where there is standing room only
• Z should, where possible, sit near to door of bus/train
• Z should, where possible, sit to the inside of the seat, the “window
seat”
Scenario No 13
On the bus or train Z is conspicuously staring at a member of the
public.
Living with Risk
Support Strategy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Divert Z’s attention away from the focus of his attention, if possible
If diversion is not an option or not working, get off at the next stop.
Do not talk about the situation until you and Z are off the bus/train.
If the person Z’s is focussed on gets off at this stop, walk in opposite direction.
When appropriate explain to Z why you got off the bus/train.
Talk through the inappropriateness of the situation with Z.
If necessary get a taxi to your proposed destination.
Inform the Team Leader at the next opportunity.
Complete an Incident Report and forward to the Team Leader and Service
Leader.
10. The Incident Report will be forwarded to the Care Manager.
11. Z should be encouraged to share this situation at his next ITSO group.
Living with Risk
HAPPINESS
HIGH
LOW
Only use these strategies
if the person and everyone
else agrees that the risk is
worth taking and it does
not leave the person or
others in real danger
These strategies
should always be used.
HIGH
Only use these
strategies if the person
or others is in real
danger
Never use these
strategies
LOW
S
A
F
E
T
Y
Living with Risk
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.
American Declaration of Independence
Living with Risk
‘The views of service users (sic) are
largely absent from the literature but
their role in taking and managing risks
on an everyday basis should not be
overlooked, nor their potential to play a
more significant role in the process’
Stalker, K., (2003) Journal of Social Work,
Managing Risk and Uncertainty in
Social Work, 3(2) 211-233.
Living with Risk
Thank you for listening
Sam Smith
Executive Director
C-Change for Inclusion
sam.smith@c-change.org.uk
0141 427 2946