ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the social and political contexts in which the concept of risk has been constructed, and in which the practices of risk assessment have emerged. It also explores some concerns about the dominance of risk assessment in social work, and acknowledges some of the limitations of using risk-assessment instruments. Risk-assessment tools claim to assist practitioners to organise and classify information about perceived risk with the express purpose of enhancing decision-making to manage or eliminate risk. Conducting risk assessments presents a number of challenges for social work and welfare practitioners. The chapter argues that using anti-oppressive theoretical approaches and strengths-based techniques may improve our practice when undertaking risk assessment. This is illustrated by using the examples of domestic violence and suicide-prevention risk-assessment tools when working with victims/survivors. Research indicates that suicide ideation and/or attempts are common to victims/survivors of violence.
