Risk assessment in mental health is often seen as a process of calculating probabilities that a client will become violent or suicidal within a given time period. In fact, predicting the vagaries of human behaviour is notoriously difficult if not impossible and is not the point of risk assessment and management in mental health care.

Risk assesment and management in mental health is a 1 or 2 day course which aims to show how good assessment and management of risk is about identifying possibilities (rather than probabilities) and determining circumstances and situations where the potential for harm is greater and requires management. The course makes use of case studies and small group exercises to demonstrate how care workers can use information effectively, liaise with other agencies, and work collaboaratively with the client to identify risk and design plans to either prevent problems or lessen their impact.

Furthermore, Risk Assessment and Management in Mental Health will focus not only on how the process can help reduce the potential for harm, but can also serve as a valuable means of providing a high-quality care package for the most vulnerable client groups.