Skip Navigation


BJSW Advance Access originally published online on December 19, 2005
British Journal of Social Work 2006 36(8):1411-1429; doi:10.1093/bjsw/bch406
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
36/8/1411    most recent
bch406v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Taylor, B. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

Risk Management Paradigms in Health and Social Services for Professional Decision Making on the Long-Term Care of Older People

Brian J. Taylor

Brian Taylor is Lecturer in Social Work in the School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland. His particular interests include assessment, care planning, risk, decision making and evidence-based practice.

Correspondence to Dr Brian Taylor, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Department of Social Work, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland. E-mail: bj.taylor{at}ulster.ac.uk

Risk management systems and structures are developing rapidly within UK health and personal social services. However, the risk management strategies of organizations need to take into account the conceptual frameworks used by professionals. This grounded theory study used data from nineteen focus groups and nine semi-structured interviews (ninety-nine staff in total) to explore perspectives on risk and decision-making regarding the long-term care of older people. Focus group participants and interviewees comprised social workers, care managers, consultant geriatricians, general medical practitioners, community nurses, occupational therapists, home care managers and hospital discharge support staff. Social work and health care professionals conceptualized risk and its management according to six paradigms that appeared to be in a state of reciprocal tension: (i) Identifying and Meeting Needs; (ii) Minimizing Situational Hazards; (iii) Protecting this Individual and Others; (iv) Balancing Benefits and Harms; (v) Accounting for Resources and Priorities; and (vi) Wariness of Lurking Conflicts. The effective translation into practice of risk management strategies needs to address the complex and often contradictory issues facing health and social services professionals.

Keywords: community care, decision making, health and social services, older people, risk management


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br J Soc WorkHome page
S. Dwyer
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and People with Dementia: Implications for Social Worker
Br. J. Soc. Work, June 29, 2009; (2009) bcp077v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DementiaHome page
F. Waugh
Where does risk feature in community care practice with older people with dementia who live alone?
Dementia, May 1, 2009; 8(2): 205 - 222.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.