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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.  

A risk management plan should focus on managing the identified risks and where appropriate put in place safeguarding measures, which include but are not limited to:

  • what immediate action must be taken
  • who else needs to contribute and support decisions and actions
  • what the person sees as proportionate and acceptable
  • what options there are to address risks
  • when action needs to be taken and by whom
  • what the strengths, resilience and resources of the adult are
  • what needs to be put in place to meet the on-going support needs of the person
  • what the contingency arrangements are
  • how the plan will be monitored
Last updated: 25 May 2023