Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section

Appendix 4: Workplace Violence - Risk Assessment Form and Samples

Example 3: Northend Community Nursing Services

Section 1: Context Appendix 4: — setting the scene

Location: Community Services

Division: Northend Community Nursing  Services

Area/Activity/Person:  Mr Patient is a self-administering type-2 diabetic. Following an assessment by the diabetes department, Mr Patient has been identified as requiring regular monitoring by a healthcare professional in his own home. Mr Patient is now ready for discharge to Northend Community Nursing Services, however there have been several recorded incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour from Mr Patient; including stroking, gestures, forced embracing towards female attendees. Mr Patient is fully mobile, communicating both orally and in written form. This risk assessment sets in place those controls necessary to ensure an effective safe discharge to Community Services.

 

Section 2: Identifying Hazards — what can go wrong and who will be affected

Hazard	Something with the potential to cause harm	Persons at risk [√]
A	Indecent or sexual advances directed at attending female healthcare professionals and other organisations.	S [√] V [ ] P [ ] O [ ]
B	Periods of high blood sugar levels due to lack of appropriate insulin management	S [√] V [ ] P [√] O [ ]

S = staff; V = Visitor, P = Patient; O = Other

Section 3: Existing Control Measures —what practical steps are already in place

Hazard	Existing Control Measures
A	Refusal by Northend District Nursing Services to accept discharge until all practical steps have been taken to ensure their continued safety when attending the patient. (Short term measure only.)
B and A	A Case management meeting held on 11 November 2005 to gather information and outline the issues – attended by Valley Acute Hospital, Northend District Nursing, Diabetes Department and community liaisons.

 

Section 4: Evaluating risk — not ‘worse case scenario’; takes into account existing controls

Hazard	Consequence ( 1 – 5 )	X	Likelihood (1 – 5 )	=	Risk Rating (1 – 25 )
A	2	X	5	=	10
B	2	X	4	=	8

 

Section 5: Risk prioritised action plan - applying the hierarchy of controls:

E=eliminate I=isolate M=minimise

Hazard	E /I/ M	Practicable Steps required to further control risk	Responsibility
A	M	Ensure that, prior to discharge, suitable arrangements are in place to attend Mr Patient in pairs. Mobile phones will also need to be provided.	Community nursing manager
A	I	Should Mr Patient make further inappropriate advances he is to be informed that continuation will lead to escorted visits to an alternative venue for his insulin monitoring.	All attending to be aware of position..
B	M	Ensure that all community nurses managing Mr Patient’s insulin dependency are made aware of how his particular insulin pen is used. New nurses to attend Diabetes Department if unsure on Mr Patient’s pen model.	Community nursing manager/ Diabetes Department
B + A	I	In all cases communication is the key to maintaining a positive environment between the visiting professional and patient.  Provided persons entering Mr Patient’s home are made aware of the risks and ensure they continue to maintain a strict position of ‘zero tolerance’ to his sexual behaviour, the continuation of clinical care should not be an obstacle	Bed bureau

 

Section 6: Further Information: cross-sector safety responsibilities

Who is responsible for local monitoring?: ASE manager

Is further competent (clinical risk, manual handling) advice required? Yes / No Comments: ON review

Do third parties (agencies) require a copy of this risk assessment for their safety? Yes / No Comments: Other known agencies whose female staff may be in a position of risk. Ensure you measure the balance between maintaining the confidentiality of the patient and the safety of others

 

Section 7: Assessment Sign-Off – assessment monitoring responsibilities

Assessor’s name: Risk  assessor

Date of assessment: 11 November 2005

Assessor’s signature:

Review: (tick one) daily weekly monthly yearly

Reassessment date: 11 April 2006

Manager’s signature:

---

Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section