What does "positive risk-taking" involve in care planning?

Positive risk-taking in care planning fundamentally involves balancing the potential risks associated with a client's choices or actions with strategies to ensure their safety while still striving to achieve their goals. This approach recognizes that taking risks can be an essential part of personal growth and development, especially for individuals in health and social care settings. It emphasizes understanding the individual's needs and preferences while implementing appropriate safety measures that do not overly restrict their autonomy.

In this context, positive risk-taking means actively engaging clients in decision-making about their care, allowing them to pursue life experiences and opportunities, even when some level of risk is involved. For instance, encouraging a client to participate in a social activity, despite the potential physical or emotional risks, can lead to improved well-being and social integration. Care planning that embraces this concept aims to empower individuals to make informed choices while ensuring they have the support needed to minimize unnecessary harm.

Choosing options that suggest complete independence without any safety measures, avoiding any form of risk, or consistently minimizing all potential risks contradicts the essence of positive risk-taking. Those approaches could undermine the agency and growth of individuals by restricting their interactions with the world around them.