Risk Assessment and Risk Management - Essay Example

Risk Assessment and Risk Management Presented Risk Assessment and Risk Management Introduction Risk assessment refers to the process of examining potential causes of harm to the society in general, and determining whether enough precautions have been taken to minimize such risks, or whether there is need for more preventive actions to mitigate the society against any harm (Titterton, 2005). Risk Assessment is one of the components of risk management process, which involves risk identification, assessment, and control. Workers and other stakeholders in organizations have a right to be protected from harm that may occur due to lack of enough control measures; this justifies the need to incorporate risk assessment and risk management models in organizations (Titterton, 2005).In addition, risk Assessment and risk management models are useful in the process of determining types and levels of hazards that specific groups of people such as children, teenagers, and elders are exposed to, and in preventing or mitigating any possible threat to such groups (Clare 2002). This paper examines the knowledge needed to develop a framework for risk assessment and risk management. Furthermore, it looks at the strengths and challenges that exist in the use of consensus-based risk assessment model for children protection. Finally, it explains the processes through which a worker can incorporate a risk assessment and risk management model into their personal practice. Knowledge bases in risk assessment and risk management According to Pamela (2008), knowledge base is foundation of any profession; this refers to a body of specialist knowledge, which acts as the base of professional practice. Therefore, it has become increasingly essential for individuals and organizations to demonstrate underpinning knowledge base, while undertaking any task within human services, aimed at achieving professional status. In the development of a framework for risk assessment and risk management, three interweaving features of knowledge bases are needed: theoretical knowledge, practical or personal knowledge, and factual knowledge (Pamela 2008). Theoretical knowledge base includes the existing literature that analysis risk incidents, situations, or events, literature that analysis our role and tasks in risk assessment and risk management, and literature that offers guidance on the practical approaches to be followed in assessing and managing risks. Practical or personal knowledge base refers to the practical skills, or knowledge that is acquired at work place related to risk assessment and risk management. These practical skills may be acquired through training, or through learning from experience, which leads to new knowledge. Finally, factual knowledge refers to the professional standards, rules, regulations, and ethical values developed in the past to provide guidance during professional practice. As (Pamela, 2008) explains, there are numerous codes of practice in Australia and internationally that have been developed through research to guide risk assessment and risk management practice. Sources of these standards, rules, regulations, and ethical values related to risk assessment and risk management include legislation, organizational policies and procedures, and social policies. Consensus-based model of risk assessment Currently, there are two major models that guide the process of risk assessment in child protection. One of these is the consensus-based model, which includes tools developed from literature on child maltreatment or/and from expert practitioner’s opinions. On the other hand, actuarial model encompasses risk assessment tools developed by statistically identifying the factors related to maltreatment cases. As Robinson and Moloney (2010) noted, there has been a tendency to shift from unstructured clinical decision-making, to the use of standardized risk assessment tools. Thus, consensus-based model instruments attempt to bridge the gap between actuarial and unstructured clinical decision-making. There are several strengths and challenges of using Consensus-based model of risk assessment. First, Consensus-based instruments allow a greater flexibility in assessment (Gillingham, 2006). As mentioned earlier, consensus based instruments allow comprehensive assessment of risks. While developing the instruments, items are identified based on the existing research literature on maltreatment, theories of child maltreatment, and opinions of expert practitioners. In most cases, items from various instruments are combined to form a new instrument, hence developing a hybrid of instruments that vary according to the beliefs or needs of the user (Gillingham, 2006). Secondly, consensus-based instruments do not impose restrictions on combining or weighing different risk factors (Shlonksy and Wagner, 2005). The consensus-based model utilizes an underlying assumption that the causes of maltreatment to children are multi-dimensional and complex; this requires consideration of as many related domains as possible. Such an approach makes this model more reliable and valid compared to actuarial model. Thirdly, they emphasize on comprehensive assessment of risk; they predict all forms of maltreatment. Furthermore, this model requires knowledge of skilled practitioners and incorporates clinical judgment. Shlonksy and Wagner (2005,) noted that other tools just describe areas to be assessed by a worker without giving directions in terms of assessment to be done. On the contrary, workers using consensus-based tools consider the identified areas, and rate them based on a pre-determined scale upon their judgment. However, there are various challenges that arise in the application of this model. To start with, there is likelihood that measures are poorly conceptualized, ambiguous, and loosely defined. According to Rycus and Hughes, “measures derived using consensus-based instruments are often poorly defined, nebulous, and ambiguous, overly global, illogical, and very subjective” (as cited in Gillingham 2006, 88) Secondly, predictive validity and Inter-rater reliability for consensus-based measures is reported to be poor compared to actuarial measures. In addition, this model may be too subjective and reliant on professional discretion. According to the Department of Communities (2012), there is a high tendency to rely on factors relating to cases of maltreatment rather than recurrence of the case, or upon attributes for which there is no support from research findings. Finally, this model uses the same parameters or variables to predict all forms of maltreatment, despite the fact that different forms of maltreatment may have different indicators. Same variables are used to predict neglect, sexual abuse, and physical abuse, even though dynamics and contributors often vary for these types of maltreatments (Gillingham, 2006). Incorporating a risk assessment and risk management model into personal practice framework Prior to incorporating a risk assessment and risk management model into personal practice framework, a worker should identify the overall job or activity, and break it down into a number of stages or job steps (Department of justice and Attorney General, 2011). This is because; different job steps are often associated with different hazards or risks and may require different control measures or precautions. The first step in incorporating the risk assessment and risk management model is to identify all risks or hazards associated with each particular job step. This can be identified in many ways, including talking to other workers and/or management, direct observation, consultation of the available records about past incidents, checking information from suppliers, consulting legal documents and looking at in-house arrangements, guidance and policies (Department of justice and Attorney General, 2011). The second step involves identification of people who might be harmed, and determining their number. Additionally, it is essential to determine the duration of exposure and the types of persons exposed to the risks; these may include students, trainees, volunteers, inexperienced workers, visitors, and contractors (Department of justice and Attorney General, 2011). The Department of Justice and Attorney General explains other steps in risk management to be as follows: the third step is to evaluate risks by looking at risk control measures that are in place currently, and deciding whether they control risks adequately. Fourth, one must record the significant findings of risk assessment. All people in the workplace exposed to hazards must be provided with copies of the risk assessments. The fifth step involves eliminating the risks identified as much as possible, or minimizing them to a level that is reasonably practicable. In this step, a worker must consult other stakeholders that might be affected by the decision to control the risks, including fellow workers and management staff (Department of justice and Attorney General, 2011). This will help in choosing the most appropriate control measures, and to increase the level of acceptance by all stakeholders to be affected by any changes to be made. Finally, the risk assessment should be constantly reviewed for validity. Changes often occur within an organization such as change in personnel, change in equipments and change in work procedures. External changes may also occur such as new legislation, development of more effective or cheaper risk control methods or new hazards identified with the process. Risk assessment should also be reviewed if controls are not working effectively. As the Department of justice and Attorney General (2011) explain, changes usually occur gradually over time and may not be noticed. However, such changes may represent a significant change when taken together. Therefore, it is advisable to constantly review risk assessment results. Conclusion Risk assessment and risk management are important processes that help to prevent harm on workers and other stakeholders in organizations, and on other groups of people in the society. As noted, the three interweaving features or knowledge bases needed in the development of a framework for risk assessment and risk management are theoretical knowledge, practical or personal knowledge, and factual knowledge. Various Strengths and challenges have been identified in this essay relating to the consensus-based risk assessment model of child protection, which encompasses instruments developed from literature on maltreatment and opinions of expert practitioners. Finally, this essay has identified six steps involved in the process of incorporating a risk assessment and risk management model into personal practice framework. References Clare, B. 2002, ‘Family Reunification-Rhetoric and Risks’, Children Australia, 27(3), pp. 19-25.  Department of Communities. 2012. ‘Child Safety and Disability Services 2012, Child safety services,’  http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/childsafety/protecting-children/about-child-protection. [Accessed 30, November 2012.] Department of justice and Attorney General. 2011. How to manage work health and safety risks – Code of Practice 2011.’ http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/manage-whs-risks-cop-2011.pdf [Accessed 30, November 2012.] Gillingham, P. 2006. ‘Risk Assessment in child protection: Problem rather than solution?’ Australian Social Work, 59(1), Pp. 86–98 Pamela, T. 2008. ‘Revisiting the Knowledge Base of Social Work: A Framework for Practice’ British Journal of Social Work, 38(6), Pp. 1212 - 1237 Robinson, E., & Moloney, L. 2010. Family violence: Towards a holistic approach to screening and risk assessment in family support services (AFRC Briefing No. 17). Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse, Melbourne Shlonksy A. & Wagner D. 2005, ‘The Next step: Integrating actuarial risk assessment and clinical judgement into an evidence-based practice framework in CPS case management’, Children and Youth Services Review, 27(4), pp. 409-427.  Titterton, M. 2005, Risk and risk taking in health and social welfare, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. from p 73 and 88 Read More