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Positive risk taking

Quick guidance on positive risk taking for social care practitioners

Positive risk taking

Positive risk taking involves weighing up the potential benefits and harms of exercising one’s choice of action over another. When working with adults who have care and support needs it is important to identify potential risks involved through the use of a good risk assessment. Through the use of good risk management develop a plan of action that is reflective of the positive potentials and desired outcomes of adult, using available resources that can support to achieve the desired outcomes and minimise potential harmful outcomes.

Guidance on Positive Risk Taking and Risk Management is available that sets out Camden's strength based approach to support people to identify their desired outcomes and achieve these outcomes by utilising their own strengths and assets and those of people close to them and within their local communities.  

When discussing positive risk taking the level and type of risk will need to be evaluated because not every situation or activity involves a risk that needs to be assessed or managed. Risks can vary in degree and can therefore be of no greater risk to the adult than it would be for any other person.

It is important to consider all aspects of the adult’s well-being and personal circumstances when identifying risk, sources of risk may fall into one of four categories:

  • private and family life – The risk may be from someone such as a partner or other family member.
  • community based risks – This type of risk can include issues like anti-social behaviour and mate crime.
  • risks associated with service provision – This refers to concerns about poor care such as neglect or organisational abuse, or where a person in a position of trust because of the job they do financially or sexually exploits someone.
  • self-neglect - The source of risk is the person themselves
Last updated: 25 May 2023