This concise and easy-to-read book provides an informative and practical guide to the process of undertaking a risk assessment, arriving at a formulation and then developing a risk management plan. Attractively presented, plentiful tip and fact boxes, tables, diagrams and case examples make it easy to identify key information.

Introduction 1. About This Guide 2. Cultural Diversity 3. Gender and Sexuality 4. A Note about Terminology Part 1: Risk Assessment: An Overview 1. Introduction 2. Key Issues to Determine from a Risk Assessment 3. Organisational Issues and Risk Assessment and Risk Management 4. Risk of Suicide and Self Harm 5. Risk of Dangerousness, Violence and/or Homicide 6. Developing a Common Language for Assessing and Communicating Risk Part 2: General Principles of Risk Assessment 1. Different Approaches to Risk Assessment 2. Making Use of the Information Gained from Assessment 3. Translating the Assessment into a Formulation 4. The Safety of the Clinician and Patient 5. Taking a Referral Part 3: Undertaking a Risk Assessment 1. First Impressions 2. Initial Communications and Developing a Rapport 3. Key Interview Skills 4. Other Interview Techniques 5. Things to Avoid 6. Closing, or Finishing, the Interview 7. Risk Assessment in the Context of a Full Mental Health Assessment 8. Defining the Risk 9. Short Assessments and Re-Assessments – The Key Principles 10. Developing a Formulation Part 4: Developing a Risk Management Plan 1. Introduction 2. Mental Capacity 3. Negotiating and Writing a Care Plan for the Purposes of Writing a Care Plan 4. Therapeutic Risk Taking or Positive Risk Management 5. Relapse Profiles and Crisis Plans 6. Record Keeping and Good Documentation Summary and Conclusions