ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the management of risk and relate this to some of the major aspects of community social work. It argues that there are benefits and limitations to the approach. The chapter focuses on management and not on practice issues in working with risk, and highlights certain issues for managers. In chairing a child protection conference, a team manager is working for the department in a risky area. Assessment of risk to individuals involves considering many factors which can be expressed along a continuum from low to severe. In order to reach appropriate decisions, one need to refer back to the original reason for registration, identifying the current levels of risk in the context of registration criteria and quality of life. Partnership is also central to the theory and practice of community social work. Many initiatives have been undertaken by community social work teams which demonstrate ways of working together.
