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Assessment of interpersonal risk ( AIR ) in adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour – piloting a new risk assessment tool
Author(s) -
Campbell Martin,
McCue Michael
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.2012.00735.x
Subject(s) - risk assessment , risk management tools , interpersonal communication , challenging behaviour , judgement , psychology , unit (ring theory) , mental health , applied psychology , risk management , learning disability , psychiatry , social psychology , computer science , mathematics education , computer security , management , political science , law , economics
Accessible summary A new risk assessment tool, called the Assessment of Interpersonal Risk ( AIR ), has been developed. This is to measure the risks between adults with learning disabilities who have challenging behaviour and mental health problems. The tool is used to record five different types of risk. It was used for a period of 6 months in a National Health Service (NHS) assessment and treatment unit, to see how well it worked. Incidents of challenging behaviour for five people were recorded over this time. The assessment of interpersonal risk was combined with the risk assessment tools already being used in the assessment and treatment unit. Results showed that the AIR tool may be a useful addition to: Effectively managing risk Informing assessments, especially when people are moving from in‐patient services Support professional judgement to make defensible decisions about riskSummary A new risk assessment tool, Assessment of Interpersonal Risk ( AIR ), was piloted and evaluated to measure risk factors and compatibility between individuals living in an assessment and treatment unit in one NHS area. The adults with learning disabilities in this unit had severe and enduring mental health problems and/or behaviour that is severely challenging. The aims of this small‐scale research project were to estimate the reciprocal risk to and from each individual across five main risk domains and to enhance professional judgement to make defensible decisions about interpersonal risk. Data were recorded on incidents involving five individuals over a period of 6 months. Individual Rating Profiles were incorporated into existing Individual Risk Management Plans, together with interpersonal profiles, recording risk evaluations between named individuals across the five risk domains. Results showed that the AIR tool may be a useful addition to existing effective risk management, to inform assessments and future discharge planning.