ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the guidance for social workers in relation to the identification and management of risk and dangerousness. The concept of the risk society' has been prominent in sociology for many years. The attitudes and behaviours that Beck, Giddens, and others have identified as characterising the risk society have relevance for policy and practice in relation to people with mental health problems. Indeed, there is a risk of contravention of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, constituting a threat to the private life of the individual, and the action of the AMHP must be proportional. Campbell and Heginbotham contend that dangerousness should be considered as a quality that is acted out by a cross-section of people in society and not restricted to people with a mental disorder. Depending on their assessed level of dangerousness to others patients may be placed in facilities which exist on a continuum of degree of security.
