Risk

“There can be no secrets and no hiding when it comes to exposing the abuse of vulnerable adults.”
“No Secrets” March 2000

The function of the Risk Guidelines group is to agree a strategy for developing risk guidelines to inform Admiral Nurse practice. The development of the guidelines is intended as a supplement to local Trust Multi-Agency Policy and Procedures for the promotion of vulnerable adults and their protection from abuse. A through grounding in these policies and procedures is an essential prerequisite to good practice.

The remit of the guidelines group will consist of three components:

1) A series of Workshops to explore in a more structured way both positive and negative aspects of risk taking in Admiral Nurse clinical practice through the use of care-giving scenarios

2) Written guidance for managing risk associated with the specific scenario. This will take the form of documentation linking care scenarios with specific recommendations for practice and will form the basis for an Admiral Nurse Handbook. An aim of the guidance will be to link research findings to the possible courses of action, thus adding to the evidence-based framework for practice.

3) An established protocol for obtaining consent and maintaining anonymity when writing up and publishing clinical material (Competency portfolio, page 13 Link?)

The implementation of the programme of workshops is linked to the Practice Development framework and will consist of five half-day sessions. The target date for the written guidelines is November 2003.

The management of risk is a dynamic process. By its nature, the assessment of risk involves chance, uncertainty and unpredictability. It is therefore, envisaged that this area of practice will be well served by an ongoing dialogue and engagement with the promotion of wellbeing for carers and those they care for in the context of clinical supervision.

Membership:
Susan Ashcroft-Simpson, Team leader Manchester
Dave Bell, Team Leader Westminster
Kate Coupe, Admiral Nurse Haringey
Joan Devenny, Admiral Nurse Gateway
Rita Mahoney, Team Leader Brent
Walter Wills, AFBPsS
for contact details please see locations of services

Walter Wills AFBPsS
Honorary Research Fellow Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology and Group Psychotherapist Tavistock Clinic, Adult Department.Trustee the Neurological Alliance.