Positive Risk Taking Joseph Gibson Sense Scotland Outdoor Activities Co-ordinator

Why am I here? Talk last year… discussion of risk My background

Outline Introduction Risky Activities… Aspects of risk Assessment of risk Risk of not taking risks Case Study

Aspects of risk Risk equation

Hazard =Something which has the potential to cause harm Risk =The likelihood of that harm occurring and the severity of the outcome

Risk Equation Risk = Likelihood x Severity Crude example Rock climbing is low likelihood but high severity Risk = 1 x 10 = 10 Scrambling is higher likelihood but lower in hazard Risk = 6 x 4 = 24

Aspects of risk Risk equation

Types of risk Risk equation Perceived/actual risk

Perceived vs. Actual risk Perceived risk is how the risk involved in an activity is felt by the person doing the activity, whilst actual risk is the risk that is present in reality.

Aspects of risk Risk equation Perceived/actual risk Objective/Subjective risk Physical and Psychological risk Risks to whom?

Risks to whom Service user Staff (lone working etc.) Members of the public External professionals

Aspects of risk Risk equation Perceived/actual risk Objective/Subjective risk Physical and Psychological risk Risks to whom? Risk of what?

Risk of what Injury Discomfort Humiliation Fines Prison

Aspects of risk Risk equation Perceived/actual risk Objective/Subjective risk Physical and Psychological risk Risks to whom? Risk of what? Cultural differences

Some context…

Health or Safety ? The cost of not engaging with adventure activities Marcus Bailie Head of Inspection The Adventure Activities Licensing Service.

The Human Cost Total deaths per year for all ages 130,000All cancers 120,000All heart attacks 100,000All smoking related illnesses 30,000Obesity and unfitness 20,000All alcohol related illnesses 10,000All accidents 6,000Suicide 4,000Accidents in the home 350Accidents at work 3,500Road Traffic Accidents 6 Rail crashes or derailments 150Adventure activity accidents

..and for our 13 million young people In total 1,400 sudden or accidental deaths per year 450Road Traffic Accidents 400Undiagnosed heart disease 140Suffocation 125Poisoning 100 Suicide 90 Drowning 80Fire 65Falls 50 Murder 3 School visits 1 School adventure activities

Types of Risk Assessment Generic: A general RA where the hazards and control measures are relevant to all or the majority of persons carrying out or involved in an activity. Individual: A RA which takes in additional hazards etc which are only relevant to an individual involved in that task. This may be a staff member or service user. Specific: A RA which deals with a one-off or rare activity or event.

5 step Risk Assessment 1.What are the hazards? 2.Who might be harmed? 3.What are the current control methods? 4.What further control methods are required? 5.Review the assessment regularly.

Things to consider within these steps… Activity Environment Equipment Group Individual

Who should assess risk Teams rather than individuals Person being assessed (if appropriate) People with relevant knowledge or expertise

Assessment of risk Purpose to highlight, minimise and manage potential areas of risk - not a tool to prohibit activities taking place.

Why take risks with our service users?

Continuum of aims LeisureEducation or therapy Physical Fun,enjoyment, relaxing, letting the activities speak for themselves Burns off energy, increases co-ordination and motor skills Use activities in structured way towards predetermined therapeutic or educational aims

Why take risks with our service users? Opportunity for meaningful, authentic, dramatic experiences - communication development Build and develop self-awareness and self- confidence Develop physical attributes Exposure to a wider range of learning opportunities and stimulating environments Provide the opportunity to “live” life - chance for adventure and psychological high

Do we need to take risks? Is there other ways we can achieve these things? Activities as journeys or narratives Too much focus on activity and less on process

Case Study

Fred Early forties Profoundly deafblind Uses between functional HOH signs Enjoys finger spelling Enjoys being outside

Activity How to explain to Fred??? What would his understanding be??? Physical risks Psychological risks Risk to our relationship??? I would climb with Fred on same top rope

Environment Low single pitch crag Large flat safe area below crag Easy safe path back from top of crag Easy route ideal for beginners

Equipment Helmet and harness of concern due to Fred’s history Investigated and played with equipment in a relaxed atmosphere the evening before the climbing day… Practice to give idea of system

Group Fred one of two service users with three staff plus centre staff. Each service user climbing would climb with two staff supporting with one member of staff supporting the non- climber. One service user climbing/abseiling at a time.

Individual Scaffolded ‘climbing’ to increase understanding Observed and discussed scaffold sessions to assess Relevant medication to hand

If we are going to do risky activities, how can we manage them? AALA - on its way out but still a good mark of best practice Break down activities then scaffold back up Risk assess and review regularly Assess and re-assess aims, objectives and benefits, is this the best activity?

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. (Helen Keller,