Chapter objectives

To present a critical analysis of the use of risk-assessment tools in social work and welfare practice.

To explore ethical and political considerations in the use of domestic violence and suicide prevention risk-assessment tools in practice.

To discuss the necessity for risk assessment to be informed by critical social work principles.

To demonstrate, through the use of a case study, the explicit links between critical social work theories and risk-assessment practices.

To explore the critical skills of deep empathetic listening, critical questioning, validating, normalising, consciousness-raising, contextualising, adopting a non-expert stance and safety planning in the context of risk assessment.