This page is designed to answer the following questions:
- 4.3 Assess how risk taking impacts on: a. individuals, b. the organisation (Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care, Health and Safety in Health and Social Care Settings)
NOTE: This page has been quality assured for 2023 as per our Quality Assurance policy.
For this assessment criterion, you will be required to assess how risk-taking impacts both the organisation and the individual.
On this page
Individuals
Individuals may be positively or negatively affected by risk-taking, dependent upon how the organisation carries out risk assessments.
If risk assessments are performed in a way that does not involve the individual, they may feel oppressed and that their views and opinions are not important, not valued and not respected. Assessments conducted by others are also more likely to be risk-averse, which means that although the individual will be kept safe, it can prevent them from having the opportunities to take risks in their lives – something which we all have the right to choose for ourselves.
Conversely, if the risk assessment is carried out collaboratively, the individual will feel involved, as well as be able to exercise their rights to choice and control in their lives. This can have a positive influence on their independence, self-esteem, confidence and general well-being. Opportunities will be provided for the individual to understand the pros and cons of making a decision so that they are able to make an informed choice. In cases where they choose to take risks, measures can be put in place to reduce the risk and keep the individual as safe as possible.
The organisation
Organisations have a legal requirement under health and safety legislation and professional duty of care to keep individuals in the work setting as safe as possible. This has, in the past, made many organisations very risk-averse because they are concerned about the potential litigation or damage to their reputation that they could face in the event of injury in relation to risk-taking.
However, a robust risk assessment process, which is person-centred and promotes an individual’s rights of choice and control can be used to demonstrate that risks were calculated before being taken. This process will include systems for ensuring that an individual has the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves and that they have been provided with all the information they need to make an informed choice. Of course, all risk assessments must be recorded so that they can be referred back to, if needed.