Facilitator: Professor Stephen Hart (Canada)

Cost: £650 Inc VAT

Duration: 2 Days - Thursday 29th and Friday 30th March 2012

Systematic assessment of the risk of harm to others is now generally accepted to be a crucial component in the effective management of violent offenders. Using the method of structured professional judgement, violence risk assessment is geared towards the design of a comprehensive risk management plan. Published guidelines following this approach have long been applied in prisons and forensic mental health services in Britain and now are used widely around the world. The approach is also endorsed by the Risk Management Authority, which sets standards of best practice in risk assessment in Scotland. With growing recognition of the need for multidisciplinary involvement in risk assessment and risk management planning, as well as an increased awareness of its relevance in any setting where people with histories of violence are encountered, an increasing number of professionals are being expected to contribute to the process.

The HCR-20 is a tool for assessing general violence risk and is perhaps the most commonly applied risk assessment tool using the SPJ approach. It provides guidelines for integrating information from a broad range of risk factors associated with violence recidivism. This workshop is aimed at any professional working with violent offenders or academics with an interest in violence risk assessment and management. Participants will learn about the structured professional judgement approach and about the background and procedures to the HCR-20. Using case examples, participants will practise drawing up future risk scenarios risk and devising risk management strategies.