title: Managing the unmanageable: risk assessment and risk management in contemporary professional practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sets out to investigate the theories and practices of risk assessment and management in the context of contemporary mental health practice.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although risk assessment and management policies are well established for those working in the field of community mental health care, there are noticeable anomalies and regional variations, in the criteria, procedures and decision-making strategies used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group taped interviews were conducted with over 100 mental health professionals in one NHS Trust. These were compared with an extensive literature review on the topic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main theme to emerge was lack of resources, which included time and staff in the context of a changing and increasing workload. Another important theme was the lack of access to centralized and accurate information about mental health service provision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is essential that professionals, clients, their families and the public feel confident in professional judgements and practices to avoid a 'back to the asylum' lobby, for the care and treatment of seriously mentally ill individuals.
authors.affiliation: University of Luton, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raven
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rix
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D016526:Workload