Assessing and managing risks for people who use health and social care services
because of mental illness or dementia can dominate everyday practice. Concerns
exist around people being a danger to themselves (both through intentional
self-harm or self-neglect) or a danger to others. In this context, risk is defined
negatively and it is appropriate to focus on minimising risk. ‘Positive risk-taking’
has developed over the last 20 years (Morgan, 1996; 2013) and recognises that
the negative consequences of risk must be managed appropriately. But it sees risk
as also providing opportunities for learning and enabling people to make their own
decisions, to exercise choice. It builds upon individual strengths and abilities rather