How occupational therapists can engage with risk to achieve their goals

Occupational therapy supports individuals to reach their chosen goals and achieve their full potential. Taking risks can be intrinsic to someone’s progress which means occupational therapists should not see risk as a barrier. Instead they need to embrace and engage with risk, while not ignoring it. Even when an individual is assessed as not having the mental capacity to make certain choices, risk should not necessarily limit best interest decisions, especially when these take into account the individual’s stated preferences and wishes. This session will look at the principles and process of risk management.

Learning outcomes:

• When and how to carry out a risk assessment and enablement plan, and what should be included in both
• How to strike the right balance between risk and choice
• How to incorporate risk enablement into everyday practice
• What to do when risk becomes a reality

Louise Straughan, lecturer in occupational therapy, University of East Anglia