Risk and Decision Making in Adult Support and Protection Practice: User Views from Participant Research

Abstract

This paper describes a study that was undertaken against the backdrop of the introduction of the 2007 Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act. This collaborative and participatory research project used Forum Theatre as a method for gathering the views of disabled people about risk and decision making. The aim was to provide information for practitioners about the issues they should take into account when making decisions about risk. Forty-two disabled people took part in a series of four sessions where a core scenario was acted, discussed and re-enacted as a medium to explore the kind of issues likely to be considered in adult support and protection proceedings. All sessions were video recorded and rich data were generated. Many of the findings were congruent with what is already known to be good social work practice, especially in relation to skills of engagement and communication and are discussed in this paper under the broad theme of ‘building relationships’. There were also themes that related more specifically to the context of adult support and protection and these are presented under the broad theme of ‘exploring risk’. The resulting interactive materials developed to support practitioners are described.

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