Risk Assessments

I am a fan of risk assessments. They are empowering, and they are a very practical expression of loving our neighbour as ourselves.

I also recognise that the thought of doing a risk assessment can lead to a groan and sinking feeling. Probably because it takes time to do one properly. Possibly because it can be hard to know what to include. And maybe because it can feel like it's  a paper exercise and a waste of time.

I hope that the examples I am building up below help tackle the time issue and the 'not knowing what to write' problem. And if you let your risk assessments shape what people do, then they are no longer a waste of time. 

You'll find that each of the example risk assessments has four sections, which I find helps us logically think through the key areas of risk. Each section has various risks listed and you'll see examples of how we try to reduce this risk:

• physical safety (including amongst other things injuries, allergies, lost children, and traffic-related risks)
• abuse (including abuse occuring, grooming, and response to abuse being reported)
• property (including theft and damage)
• personal privacy (including contacts information and images amongs other things)

It is absolutely vital that you make sure your risk assessments comply to the guidelines of your national or local organisation, and follow national government directives. Therefore make sure your training is up to date for things like safeguarding, and make sure you are following all the guidance that comes from your umbrella organisations.