Rights & choices · England
What is a risk assessment?
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This guide is about care and support in England.
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Looking at possible harm
A risk assessment looks at what could hurt someone.
It looks at how likely this is and how serious it could be.
Your life matters
Tell people what you want to do.
The assessment should help people plan support for you.
It should look at the good things an activity brings too.
Taking part
People should listen to you.
Ask for help to understand and share your views.
You can ask someone you trust to join you.
Understanding the worry
Ask what people think could happen.
Ask what information they have used.
Ask who could be hurt and how.
Planning what helps
A safety measure is something that reduces danger.
It might be different equipment or help to learn a skill.
Ask who will help and when.
An example: the local shop
You want to go to the shop to choose your lunch.
A busy road could be dangerous.
Choosing your food and going out matter to you.
Support for the journey
You could practise a route with a suitable crossing.
You could agree what help you need.
This is an example. Your own plan might be different.
Numbers and colours
Some forms use a number or colour to show the level of risk.
Ask what it means and why it was chosen.
A number or colour alone does not decide what you can do.
Your written plan
Ask for a copy you can understand.
It should say what will happen and who will help.
Ask when you will check it together.
If you are asked to sign
Ask what your signature would mean.
You can ask questions before signing.
If you disagree, ask for this to be written down.
Making your decision
People should help you make your own decision.
Making a choice someone dislikes does not mean you cannot decide.
A risk assessment is different from checking if you can make a decision.
If someone stops you
A risk assessment alone does not give staff permission to stop you.
Ask why you are being stopped.
Ask what support could help you do the activity.
Checking the plan
Ask for a review if things change or the plan is not working.
A review means checking the plan again.
Talk about whether it helps you do what matters to you.
Getting help
You can ask the manager to look at your concerns.
An advocate can help you speak up.
You can read our guide about taking risks and doing things you choose.
What you can do next
This link is longer information for care services.
You can ask someone to help you read it.
Read CQC guidance on safe care Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- CQC: safe care and treatment Web pageLonger information
Guidance for care services on individual risk assessments and safe support.
- HSE: steps to manage risk Web pageLonger information
Explains hazards, likelihood, harm and safety measures. This longer guide is about workplaces.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
What is a risk assessment?
Understand risk assessments, safety plans and risk scores. Find out how to take part, ask questions and get a review.
Adults aged 18 and over · England
What does it mean?
A risk assessment is a careful look at possible harm and what can reduce it. A hazard is something that could cause harm, such as a wet floor. Risk means how likely harm is and how serious it could be, such as someone slipping and breaking a bone. Assessments can cover activities, places, equipment or care.
Start with what matters to you
In care and support, the assessment should consider your wishes, needs and abilities. It should help you live your life, with reasonable steps to manage danger. Tell people what you want to do and why. Consider benefits such as enjoyment, friendships and independence, as well as harm that stopping an activity could cause.
Who should take part?
The person assessing risk needs the skills and knowledge for the task. Sometimes specialist advice is needed. You should be involved and offered communication support, time and an explanation you understand. Ask for a copy in a useful format. You can ask someone you trust or an advocate to help you take part.
What should people look at?
Ask what could happen, who could be harmed, how likely it is and how serious it could be. Look at the current situation and evidence. A diagnosis alone does not explain a particular risk. Check what already helps and what else could help. Include risks to other people, including staff, where relevant.
What is a safety measure?
A form may call a safety step a “control measure”. This could mean changing equipment, getting training or arranging suitable support. The steps must actually happen; completing a form is not enough. The plan should say who will do each task, when it will happen and what to do if the support is unavailable.
A simple example: going to the shop
Imagine you want to walk to a local shop to choose your lunch. Traffic on a busy road could cause serious injury. You and your supporter could explore a route with a suitable crossing, practise it together and agree what help you need. The plan should recognise the benefit of choosing your food and getting out. Review how it works and whether you need the same support later. This is an example, not an assessment of your own journey.
What do the scores mean?
Some forms use numbers, colours or words such as low, medium and high. These summarise a judgement about likelihood and seriousness. Ask what the scale means, what evidence supports the score and whether it describes risk before or after safety steps. “Residual risk” means risk that remains. A score alone does not decide what you can do or give legal permission to stop you.
What should the written plan say?
Look for your goal and views, the possible harm, the evidence, benefits and practical safety steps. It should identify who is responsible, when actions will happen and when the plan will be reviewed. Ask for any disagreement to be recorded. Staff need to understand the current plan and put it into practice.
What if I am asked to sign?
Ask whether signing means you have seen the assessment or agree to something specific. Ask for anything unclear to be explained before signing. Consent to care should be informed and free from pressure. A signature alone does not prove this. You can ask for your views and disagreement to be recorded. Staff may still need to record a risk assessment if you do not sign it.
Risk is different from mental capacity
Mental capacity means being able to make a particular decision at the time it is needed. People must support you to decide. An unwise choice or a learning disability does not by itself mean you cannot decide. A risk assessment cannot replace a capacity assessment. Where someone lacks capacity for a decision, the Mental Capacity Act must be followed, including best interests and considering less restrictive options.
Can it be used to stop me doing things?
An assessment does not itself authorise restraint or taking away your freedom. Ask what restriction is proposed, why, who has legal authority and what less restrictive options were considered. Other people’s rights and safety also matter. If staff cannot provide the support, ask them to explain the actual difficulty and consider alternatives. Our guide “Taking risks and doing things you choose” has more information and a planning sheet.
When should it be checked again?
Arrange a review date and ask for an earlier check if your needs, activity or circumstances change, a safety step is not working, or an incident reveals a problem. Ask whether the plan helps you do what matters to you and whether restrictions can be reduced. Raise disagreement with the assessor or manager; an advocate can help. If serious danger is immediate, get appropriate help rather than waiting for a routine review.
Words you could use
“Please explain my risk assessment in a way I understand. What could happen, what will help, what do I think, and when will we check the plan again?”
More useful links
- CQC: safe care and treatment Web pageLonger information
Guidance for care services on individual risk assessments and safe support.
- HSE: steps to manage risk Web pageLonger information
Explains hazards, likelihood, harm and safety measures. This longer guide is about workplaces.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 5 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- HSE: steps needed to manage risk Web pageLonger information
Definitions and the process of identifying, assessing, controlling, recording and reviewing risk. Its workplace recording thresholds are not rules for personal care records.
- CQC Regulation 12: safe care and treatment Web pageLonger information
Competent individual assessments, managing risks, review and balancing safety with rights and preferences.
- CQC Regulation 9: person-centred care Web pageLonger information
Involvement, accessible information, needs, preferences and care planning.
- CQC Regulation 11: need for consent Web pageLonger information
Informed, ongoing consent without pressure; a signature does not replace that process.
- CQC Regulation 13: protection from abuse and improper treatment Web pageLonger information
Legal limits on restraint and restrictions on liberty.
- GOV.UK: Mental Capacity Act guide for health and care workers Web pageLonger information
Support to decide, decision-specific capacity, unwise decisions and best interests.
- CQC: safe care assessment framework Web pageLonger information
Safety, collaboration and supporting choices that balance risks of harm with a positive life.