Aim of the Course

The course aims to give learners the practical awareness needed to recognise risks early, follow agreed control measures, respond appropriately to changing circumstances, and escalate concerns within their role.

It also reinforces a person-centred approach in which safety is balanced with dignity, autonomy and positive risk taking rather than attempting to eliminate every possible risk. Skills for Care emphasises supporting people to have as much freedom, choice and control as possible while managing risk appropriately.

Scope of the Course

Designed primarily for care assistants, healthcare assistants, support workers, senior carers and similar frontline health and social care roles, this course focuses on practical risk awareness rather than advanced organisational risk governance.

Learners explore hazards affecting people receiving care, staff and the care environment, alongside their responsibility to follow risk assessments, use control measures, report changes and work within their level of competence.

What This Course Covers

1. Understanding hazards, risks and risk management
2. Identifying who may be harmed and how
3. Risk assessment principles
4. Likelihood, severity and level of risk
5. Risk-control measures
6. Person-centred and positive risk taking
7. Falls, mobility and moving-and-handling risks
8. Medicines, infection and environmental risks
9. Equipment and workplace safety
10. Safeguarding-related risks
11. Consent and mental capacity
12. Recognising changing or emerging risks
13. Recording and reporting concerns
14. Incident and near-miss awareness
15. Reviewing risk-control measures

HSE recommends a structured assessment process that identifies hazards, considers who may be harmed, controls risks, records findings where required and keeps arrangements under review.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, learners should be able to:

1. Explain the difference between a hazard and a risk.
2. Describe the basic principles of risk assessment and management.
3. Identify common risks within health and social care settings.
4. Explain how appropriate controls can reduce the likelihood or impact of harm.
5. Understand the importance of person-centred and positive risk management.
6. Follow existing risk assessments and agreed control measures.
7. Recognise when a risk has changed or new hazards have emerged.
8. Record and report risk-related information accurately.
9. Explain when concerns, incidents or near misses should be escalated.
10. Work safely within their own responsibilities and level of competence.

Further Reading

Recommended further reading includes:

1. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
2. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
3. Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, particularly Regulation 12 – Safe Care and Treatment.
4. Care Act 2014
5. Mental Capacity Act 2005
6. HSE – Managing risks and risk assessment at work.
7. HSE – Sensible risk assessment in care settings.
8. CQC – Regulation 12: Safe Care and Treatment.
9. Skills for Care – Involving people to manage risk.
10. Relevant NICE guidance on safeguarding, falls prevention and person-centred adult social care.