The CQC will expect you to support people to help them to understand and manage risks every day.
The CQC inspectors will want to know how you involve people in these matters, keeping them safe but not restricting their lives.
The CQC will look at how you support people to take positive risks that enable them to live freely and achieve personal goals. There will be the expectation that your service always seeks out the least restrictive ways to achieve this.
Where risks are identified, document and detail how to mitigate these. Use dynamic risk assessments to support people where possible and ensure that these are live records, updated to reflect people’s changing needs. If your risk assessment reference other documents, such as Care Plans, ensure information does not contradict each other.
Your risk assessment and associated policies and procedures should reflect legislation, human rights, equality, and capacity.
Your staff should be proactive, capable, and confident to undertake risk assessments. This may require training to build confidence.
Be prepared to evidence the difference you are making to people’s lives. This is something to be celebrated and shared with inspectors to show the impact of the care you are providing.
The CQC may look at how you communicate risks to the people you support in a way that they can be easily understood.
If you support people who have behaviours that challenge, the CQC inspectors will want to know how your service supports and promotes ways of working that avoids the need for physical restraint.
Any restrictive intervention must be legally and ethically justified and be absolutely necessary to prevent serious harm. Always look for the least restrictive option.
Please take a look at the associated recommendations, examples, and resources in GO Online to help you to manage risk within your service.